YOUNG SHOULD GET NEXT CRACK AT COACHING DRAGONS
In the wake of Anthony Seibold’s sacking, pressure mounts on Shane Flanagan to turn St George Illawarra’s season around.
And while the Dragons have come out publicly in support of their under fire coach this week, the bosses who gave Flanagan his two-year contract extension towards the end of last year should be under just much scrutiny as Flanagan is right now.
I pointed out on NRL 360 this week that not only are the Dragons on a run of eight straight losses, but they have gone down in 12 of their past 14 games.
What makes this even more intriguing is when you go back and look at the timeline leading up to when Flanagan got his extension at the start of last August.
At that point the Dragons had lost four straight going into the round 22 game against the Raiders.
But on the back of one win the club announced the following week that Flanagan had been extended until the end of 2028.
The Dragons then won their next game against the Sharks.
But since it’s gone pear-shaped, with eight straight defeats.
It’s flies in the face of the club statement last August that quoted chief executive Tim Watsford saying: “Shane has played a critical role in setting the foundation for where this club is heading.
“He’s re-instilled belief in our playing group, coaches and supporters together with reiterating the privilege of wearing the Red V.”
Talk about a comment not ageing well.
At least the Dragons won’t have to go searching too far for their next coach if they end up being forced to make that call because they have a ready-made replacement in Dean Young.
Young has done a long apprenticeship in assistant roles at the Dragons and the Cowboys, and I’ve spoken to Wayne Bennett about him in the past.
Bennett is convinced the man who was so instrumental in the team culture in the Dragons’ 2010 premiership triumph will also make a great head coach when Young finally gets his chance.
The issue moving forward for the Dragons is that you’d imagine Young will also be in the mix if Todd Payten ends up getting pushed out of the Cowboys.
It makes the result on Saturday potentially more crucial for both coaches given there was also mail last week that the Cowboys were ready to pull the trigger on Payten before their come-from-behind win over the Storm.
In the race for Young, it could end up being a case of first in, best dressed.
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