LOTS OF PEOPLE PUSHING THE FLANAGAN WAGON NOW.
‘Stunned no one’s hired him’: Dragons meet Flanagan as ex-Sharks boss backs Red V revolution
June 7, 2023 — 7.45pm
St George Illawarra powerbrokers have stepped up their pursuit of premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan after holding talks with the Manly assistant coach on Wednesday.
On the same day former Cronulla chairman Damian Keogh provided Flanagan with a glowing endorsement, the Sharks’ history maker is firmly in the frame to become Anthony Griffin’s permanent replacement.
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He met St George Illawarra chairman Andrew Lancaster and board member Ben Creagh, with the embattled Dragons hopeful of announcing a permanent replacement within a week.
Some sections of the Dragons board had reservations about Flanagan, but may reconsider their stance after being forced to resume their search. Flanagan has served NRL suspensions for his role in the Sharks’ supplements scandal and also for not observing the terms of that ban.
The Dragons position remains vacant after preferred applicant
Jason Ryles rejected a lucrative four-year deal to instead work under Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy next season. Former premiership players Dean Young and Ben Hornby are the other contenders.
Dragons powerbrokers have begun their due diligence on Flanagan and other candidates.
Shane Flanagan is in the frame for the Dragons job.CREDIT: NRL PHOTOS
Keogh, who was the Sharks chairman in 2016 when Flanagan became the first and only man to steer the club to a premiership, believes the coach is ready for another opportunity at the top.
“Personally, I’m a bit surprised that nobody has picked him up as a head coach just given his track record at the Sharks, despite a couple of hiccups there for him,” Keogh said.
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“His ability to put together a team to go all the way to win a premiership, there don’t appear to be that many coaches with that direct experience. It’s surprised me that no one has picked him up before.
“He’s the first to admit in the early days of Cronulla that there were a lot of issues around governance ... that’s something he would learn from.
Dean Young is still in the frame for the Dragons job.CREDIT: GETTY
“I think his reliability and professionalism, all those areas, are key. From the outside, for whoever goes into that St George Illawarra job, it’s not necessarily going to be a straightforward thing.”
After being rejected by a rookie – Ryles felt the job of rebuilding his former club was beyond him –some Red V officials believe it’s a task for a seasoned hand. Flanagan is one of three premiership-winning mentors, alongside Michael Maguire and Des Hasler, looking for a head coaching role. While Maguire and Hasler haven’t been completely discounted, Flanagan shapes as the leading contender should the club opt for an experienced coach.
Dragons director
Peter Doust, an influential member from the St George side of the board, has reservations about Flanagan. Whether other pro-Flanagan powerbrokers have been able to allay his concerns remains unclear.
Keogh believed the best chance for Flanagan, or anyone else, to succeed at the Dragons would come if the coach, chief executive and board were aligned.
‘It’s surprised me that no one has picked him up before.’
Former Sharks chair Damian Keogh on Shane Flanagan
“When we had success at Cronulla, we had a strong alignment of those three areas,” Keogh said.
“When you look at most clubs that end up winning premierships or being perennially successful, that holy trinity is key to that. Personally, for Shane’s sake, I hope he gets it and is successful.”
Flanagan, who was previously a member of the Dragons brains trust, is an assistant to Anthony Seibold at Manly. Seibold has said he won’t stand in Flanagan’s way should a head coach job arise.
“Obviously, Jason had some concerns when he went there and pulled out last minute,” Flanagan told 2GB this week.
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“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. Hopefully, it doesn’t take too long if it’s going to happen, but I’ll leave it to my manager ... but I don’t think I need to go through an interview process.
“Obviously, the club would know what I’ve done in the game; I’ve coached at NRL level for eight years, won a competition, obviously everyone talks about I’ve had a suspension, but I learnt so much from that period, and I’m a better person, better coach ... If the Dragons are interested, we’ll chat.”
The club’s coaching call could have implications for the future of star halfback and skipper Ben Hunt. Several clubs, including the Gold Coast and Canterbury, are ready to make a move should Hunt want to leave. Hunt, who is contracted until the end of 2025, was close to Griffin and is said to be keen to play in his preferred position of halfback rather than hooker
