Kyle Flanagan

[Jubilee]

He won't be keeping that weight gain once he starts playing. He will trim back substantially but leaving additional strength.

My theory is that he has done this to improve his strength against a further Creighton-type smother tackle.

Sloan also went from 84kg to 93kg. I doubt that we will see him playing lock next year. NRL footballers always get as big as they can bcs it is the only way to protect yourself against collisions.

As for keeping the muscle on through a long season, as you point that is really difficult too. That is why many footballers no longer drink alcohol, bcs it is catabolic (it strips off muscle.)

 

[Jubilee]

Don’t understand the vitriol OT.

Halves are as rare as hens teeth.

We start 2025 with KF, Ilias who is coming off a major leg injury and a 19 year old who may or may not progress.

KF is a depth signing if Ilias performs or LKT proves to be outstanding. If Ilias or LKT don’t kick on he is an option at 7.

He is a top 30 player on a modest salary. His only crime is his surname.

There are many forwards who will be selected at 13 before KF is selected:

Sele
JDB
Coachman
Stewart
Latu
Me

Really interested to see the progress of the Couchman lads next year esp. now they have re-signed until end 2027. They have not yet even finished growing.

 

[Saints Forever]

Really interested to see the progress of the Couchman lads next year esp. now they have re-signed until end 2027. They have not yet even finished growing.

Coachman and LPT development could transform our forward pack

 

[Old Timer]

Don’t understand the vitriol OT.

Halves are as rare as hens teeth.

We start 2025 with KF, Ilias who is coming off a major leg injury and a 19 year old who may or may not progress.

KF is a depth signing if Ilias performs or LKT proves to be outstanding. If Ilias or LKT don’t kick on he is an option at 7.

He is a top 30 player on a modest salary. His only crime is his surname.

There are many forwards who will be selected at 13 before KF is selected:

Sele
JDB
Coachman
Stewart
Latu
Me

It’s not vitriol it’s just stating a point of view / opinion.

I don’t subscribe to the theories that we make the top 8 if K F plays the last 4 games because he isn’t that influential game winning player.

His 2 year extension is premature and at this time unwarranted and we should be looking for better options 1st.

It is akin to Rava & Lawrie extensions and we know how that goes when it blows up and we try to move them on.

We are so used to mediocrity that any slight improvement in quality sees people rushing to keep them in the books.

Based on 2024 form K F needed at least half of 2025 to show he is worthy of 2 more years.

Unfortunately the bromance some are having with S F means that we are supposed to turn a blind eye to the issue.

K F for mine is a fill in not a lock in and since no one was banging the door down to get him why did we kick our own door in?

 

[Jubilee]

Based on 2024 form K F needed at least half of 2025 to show he is worthy of 2 more years.

So we do that and wait until Round 12 2025 and his form is unchanged. Do we then extend him for two more years? Bcs we do need a proven spine utility - with ZERO INJURY PROBLEMS - with more than 50 games. Every NRL team needs one.

But let's say Kyle's form drops off by Round 12, so we look around the market. We identify someone currently at another club. The contract situation for that player will be either
1. He is at end of contract and available for 2026
2. He will become available for offers for 2027 only after Nov 1.

In case 1, who is this player? Why does his current club not want him for 2026?

In case 2, who plays the spine utility role for 2026 while we wait for this player to join us in 2027, asuming we get his signature?

All this is so uncertain while we need someone for 2026, he knows the systems and, in my view, is a good spine utility footballer.

Signing Kyle now is a perfectly reasonable action.

 

[redv13]

It's nepotism pure and simple.

The extension for 2 years was unnecessary it could have been done much later in the year if need be.

When the halves were weak due to the inconsistent Hunt K F was a half but now the halves are strengthening and they can no longer hide behind or blame Hunt for anything and everything all of a sudden K F is putting on 10kgs preparing for a transition to the forwards when our new 5/8 arrives.

Anyone want to have a guess as to which positions we are now weakest ah oh mm it wouldn't be in the forwards would it?

Very convenient holes in the roster that K F can again fill.

No marquis prop so JDB to the front row and all of a sudden it is the 13 where K F will be heading next.

I smell a rat and maybe D A is actually coming sooner rather than later.

Maybe he should change his name to Kyle Griffin. Will that make you a tad happier??

 

[Hound of Dracula]

It’s not vitriol it’s just stating a point of view / opinion.

I don’t subscribe to the theories that we make the top 8 if K F plays the last 4 games because he isn’t that influential game winning player.

His 2 year extension is premature and at this time unwarranted and we should be looking for better options 1st.

It is akin to Rava & Lawrie extensions and we know how that goes when it blows up and we try to move them on.

We are so used to mediocrity that any slight improvement in quality sees people rushing to keep them in the books.

Based on 2024 form K F needed at least half of 2025 to show he is worthy of 2 more years.

Unfortunately the bromance some are having with S F means that we are supposed to turn a blind eye to the issue.

K F for mine is a fill in not a lock in and since no one was banging the door down to get him why did we kick our own door in?

And some people, who openly dislike the coach, don't wish to recognise the overall improvement across all facets of our club.

Instead they choose to look for opportunities to deride the coach.

They particularly don't like other people celebrating or enjoying watching the club rise from obscurity

You sound like "The Grinch"

 

[SnowDragon]

It’s not vitriol it’s just stating a point of view / opinion.

I don’t subscribe to the theories that we make the top 8 if K F plays the last 4 games because he isn’t that influential game winning player.

His 2 year extension is premature and at this time unwarranted and we should be looking for better options 1st.

It is akin to Rava & Lawrie extensions and we know how that goes when it blows up and we try to move them on.

We are so used to mediocrity that any slight improvement in quality sees people rushing to keep them in the books.

Based on 2024 form K F needed at least half of 2025 to show he is worthy of 2 more years.

Unfortunately the bromance some are having with S F means that we are supposed to turn a blind eye to the issue.

K F for mine is a fill in not a lock in and since no one was banging the door down to get him why did we kick our own door in?

Although it feels to me like your views are anti Flanno, and that drives your consistent barrage on anything Flanno related, I do actually see your point in this one.

2025will be a make or break of Kyle in the halves. If he performs well, and out performs locky, then he will move forward and partner Atkinson. If not, he will need to transition back into a 9 (more likely than 13 imho) where we originally bought him for, and for 2026 will likely be behind cook and Liddle. (At 13 behind a bunch of others too). In 2027 he could be the starting 9, with Liddle off the bench though.

so this means he may be a valuable starting half, or a fringe 9 and backup half. The issue here is what is his value? So one approach is to wait and see? Then either snap him up at real value or drop him and open up the extra roster place. I could subscribe to the point of view as well.

instead they pay him based on todays value and have him as a fringe to backup player, who is given a crack at the starting halves. In the meantime we know he gives his all, trains well and is a good fit. I can also go for this approach.

i would have waited though. But that’s only with the knowledge I have But I get it.still far fro a disaster.

 

[SAP58]

I personally believe it is a great resigning, he is an outstanding young man & is the type of player every side needs, not a superstar but will give his all for the club when ever he pulls on the Ref V. We need more with his attitude at our club. Just my opinion.

 

[Old Timer]

So we do that and wait until Round 12 2025 and his form is unchanged. Do we then extend him for two more years? Bcs we do need a proven spine utility - with ZERO INJURY PROBLEMS - with more than 50 games. Every NRL team needs one.

But let's say Kyle's form drops off by Round 12, so we look around the market. We identify someone currently at another club. The contract situation for that player will be either
1. He is at end of contract and available for 2026
2. He will become available for offers for 2027 only after Nov 1.

In case 1, who is this player? Why does his current club not want him for 2026?

In case 2, who plays the spine utility role for 2026 while we wait for this player to join us in 2027, asuming we get his signature?

All this is so uncertain while we need someone for 2026, he knows the systems and, in my view, is a good spine utility footballer.

Signing Kyle now is a perfectly reasonable action.

K F to me is solid nothing more nothing less.

Better than some of what we had but that wasn't great and like so much in this place had over inflated tires.

He is now in our roster for 3 years and if he is only a back up then that seems absurd to me.

If he is genuinely to be a starting player over the 2 year extension period then which spot is it going to be?

Can't see him beating out Cook or Liddle nor can I see him beating out LI or D A for the 6 & 7 jerseys.

So that means the recruitment team are convinced that noone better is a possibility to be with us before the start of the 2028 season.

Such vision on their part.

And some people, who openly dislike the coach, don't wish to recognise the overall improvement across all facets of our club.

Instead they choose to look for opportunities to deride the coach.

They particularly don't like other people celebrating or enjoying watching the club rise from obscurity

You sound like "The Grinch"

Ridiculous conclusion on your part.

You are making a connection between coach and player and I am not.

I am making a connection between our recruitment / retention team and a player that I believe is being over valued and I don't mean in $$$ terms.

As I said above he is now in our roster for 3 years so the belief is that noone better is available to us before 2028 and simply put I think that is stupid.

If he proved to be a game breaker in the 1st half of 2025 then I would applaud the decision to extend him.

In fact if they had of extended him for 1 year with an option in our favour I would have thought that prudent.

Maybe he should change his name to Kyle Griffin. Will that make you a tad happier??

So you are just another fool that thinks a comment questioning a decision is automatically a shot at the coach and of course that is blasphemy.

By waiting to see what he now brings to the table in his own right means we make a nuanced decision but by signing him prematurely we tie up a top 30 roster position for 3 years regardless of what he brings / doesn't bring to the table and we already have a few of those that are crippling us for now.

But of course those that think that the sun shines out of S F's arse will go along with anything and if any reasonable argument about anything is put forward you'll instantly jump to his defence.

As I said above a 1 year extension with an option our way would have been perfectly reasonable but evidently no one of K F ability is coming into our ranks before 2028 at the earliest.

 

[redv13]

K F to me is solid nothing more nothing less.

Better than some of what we had but that wasn't great and like so much in this place had over inflated tires.

He is now in our roster for 3 years and if he is only a back up then that seems absurd to me.

If he is genuinely to be a starting player over the 2 year extension period then which spot is it going to be?

Can't see him beating out Cook or Liddle nor can I see him beating out LI or D A for the 6 & 7 jerseys.

So that means the recruitment team are convinced that noone better is a possibility to be with us before the start of the 2028 season.

Such vision on their part.


Ridiculous conclusion on your part.

You are making a connection between coach and player and I am not.

I am making a connection between our recruitment / retention team and a player that I believe is being over valued and I don't mean in $$$ terms.

As I said above he is now in our roster for 3 years so the belief is that noone better is available to us before 2028 and simply put I think that is stupid.

If he proved to be a game breaker in the 1st half of 2025 then I would applaud the decision to extend him.

In fact if they had of extended him for 1 year with an option in our favour I would have thought that prudent.


So you are just another fool that thinks a comment questioning a decision is automatically a shot at the coach and of course that is blasphemy.

By waiting to see what he now brings to the table in his own right means we make a nuanced decision but by signing him prematurely we tie up a top 30 roster position for 3 years regardless of what he brings / doesn't bring to the table and we already have a few of those that are crippling us for now.

But of course those that think that the sun shines out of S F's arse will go along with anything and if any reasonable argument about anything is put forward you'll instantly jump to his defence.

As I said above a 1 year extension with an option our way would have been perfectly reasonable but evidently no one of K F ability is coming into our ranks before 2028 at the earliest.

You’re the fool that’s banging on about nepotism so that is you having a crack at Flanno. He would have the final say on signings etc. This rubbish of waiting 12 games etc??? What bloody for???

The kid busts his ass every week and if you can’t see that then I suggest you watch a little closer and take of those negative nelly glasses that you’re wearing.

He’s not a dead weight like Rava or Lawrie and I’m perfectly fine with his new deal, he showed each week this season that he deserves an extension.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

K F to me is solid nothing more nothing less.

Better than some of what we had but that wasn't great and like so much in this place had over inflated tires.

He is now in our roster for 3 years and if he is only a back up then that seems absurd to me.

If he is genuinely to be a starting player over the 2 year extension period then which spot is it going to be?

Can't see him beating out Cook or Liddle nor can I see him beating out LI or D A for the 6 & 7 jerseys.

So that means the recruitment team are convinced that noone better is a possibility to be with us before the start of the 2028 season.

Such vision on their part.


Ridiculous conclusion on your part.

You are making a connection between coach and player and I am not.

I am making a connection between our recruitment / retention team and a player that I believe is being over valued and I don't mean in $$$ terms.

As I said above he is now in our roster for 3 years so the belief is that noone better is available to us before 2028 and simply put I think that is stupid.

If he proved to be a game breaker in the 1st half of 2025 then I would applaud the decision to extend him.

In fact if they had of extended him for 1 year with an option in our favour I would have thought that prudent.


So you are just another fool that thinks a comment questioning a decision is automatically a shot at the coach and of course that is blasphemy.

By waiting to see what he now brings to the table in his own right means we make a nuanced decision but by signing him prematurely we tie up a top 30 roster position for 3 years regardless of what he brings / doesn't bring to the table and we already have a few of those that are crippling us for now.

But of course those that think that the sun shines out of S F's arse will go along with anything and if any reasonable argument about anything is put forward you'll instantly jump to his defence.

As I said above a 1 year extension with an option our way would have been perfectly reasonable but evidently no one of K F ability is coming into our ranks before 2028 at the earliest.

"You are making the connection between coach and player, and I am not. I am making a connection between our recruitment / retention"

Blind Freddy can see Shane Flanagan is our recruitment/retention
So yes - you are identifying Shane Flanagan

Understanding your moral compass, I always smile at your Fred C Dobbs quote from Humphrey Bogart’s movie ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ (1948)

“Fred C Dobbs don't say nothing he don't mean”

In the movie, Dobbs was a greedy and amoral character.

Quite ironic, I reckon.

 

[Old Timer]

You’re the fool that’s banging on about nepotism so that is you having a crack at Flanno. He would have the final say on signings etc. This rubbish of waiting 12 games etc??? What bloody for???

The kid busts his ass every week and if you can’t see that then I suggest you watch a little closer and take of those negative nelly glasses that you’re wearing.

He’s not a dead weight like Rava or Lawrie and I’m perfectly fine with his new deal, he showed each week this season that he deserves an extension.

I have never said he doesn’t bust his arse or that he is anything but a good young fellow so don’t come at me with that bullshit.

I just don’t rate him nearly as highly as you and others do nor do plenty of good coaches.

It was out and out nepotism that he came to the club and anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

Anyone who thinks that we couldn’t wait to see how he goes at the beginning of the season is also fooling themselves.

1 year and an option our way would have been prudent.

 

[Jubilee]

Can't see him beating out Cook or Liddle nor can I see him beating out LI or D A for the 6 & 7 jerseys.

If Ilias plays better next year than Kyle did this year, I will be over the moon bcs wè would be carving other sides up. Kyle knows perfectly well how to feed the ball to well-placed runners. Let's see if Ilias can do it better. In particular I hope to see Sloan leaving his wing to create overlaps and backup (like Lomax did) for both those two lads.

As I said above he is now in our roster for 3 years so the belief is that noone better is available to us before 2028 and simply put I think that is stupid.

I see the situation as being about having a spine utility, not a specialist. Young LKT could absolutely come into that role bcs he now already plays lock, half and five-eight, and his physique is very solid. He does not yet play hooker but he looks like he easily could, given some coaching. Then he could be ready by 2027 to be our spine utility...or even a specialist hooker, which we may need by 2028.

If you see the situation as being about a specialist position, then Kyle is probably not your man, but skillwise or in individual brilliance is he worse than Hornby? I advise you to go look at the tries of the year package posted by getsmarty bcs what it shows is Kyle having a crucial and often clever involvement in most of the tries. He is NOT a reserve grader.

 

[redv13]

I have never said he doesn’t bust his arse or that he is anything but a good young fellow so don’t come at me with that bullshit.

I just don’t rate him nearly as highly as you and others do nor do plenty of good coaches.

It was out and out nepotism that he came to the club and anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.

Anyone who thinks that we couldn’t wait to see how he goes at the beginning of the season is also fooling themselves.

1 year and an option our way would have been prudent.

Of course you don’t rate him highly, he’s the son of Shane Flanagan

 

[SAP58]

K F to me is solid nothing more nothing less.

Better than some of what we had but that wasn't great and like so much in this place had over inflated tires.

He is now in our roster for 3 years and if he is only a back up then that seems absurd to me.

If he is genuinely to be a starting player over the 2 year extension period then which spot is it going to be?

Can't see him beating out Cook or Liddle nor can I see him beating out LI or D A for the 6 & 7 jerseys.

So that means the recruitment team are convinced that noone better is a possibility to be with us before the start of the 2028 season.

Such vision on their part.


Ridiculous conclusion on your part.

You are making a connection between coach and player and I am not.

I am making a connection between our recruitment / retention team and a player that I believe is being over valued and I don't mean in $$$ terms.

As I said above he is now in our roster for 3 years so the belief is that noone better is available to us before 2028 and simply put I think that is stupid.

If he proved to be a game breaker in the 1st half of 2025 then I would applaud the decision to extend him.

In fact if they had of extended him for 1 year with an option in our favour I would have thought that prudent.


So you are just another fool that thinks a comment questioning a decision is automatically a shot at the coach and of course that is blasphemy.

By waiting to see what he now brings to the table in his own right means we make a nuanced decision but by signing him prematurely we tie up a top 30 roster position for 3 years regardless of what he brings / doesn't bring to the table and we already have a few of those that are crippling us for now.

But of course those that think that the sun shines out of S F's arse will go along with anything and if any reasonable argument about anything is put forward you'll instantly jump to his defence.

As I said above a 1 year extension with an option our way would have been perfectly reasonable but evidently no one of K F ability is coming into our ranks before 2028 at the earliest.

Respectfully i disagree. Everybody club needs players that have the right ability but also & importantly add & enhance the culture within the team. IMO Kyle does that whether he is in the starting side or off the bench he will be an important part of the team. The salary cap means you have the right mix of players not just so called superstars. There are plenty of players that did not perform as Kyle did in 2024 at the Dragons & at other teams. He WILL show his worth again in 2025.

 

[possm]

KF is a valuable member of the side in his own right. See my comment and the attached video above.

Kyle is going to be our long-term lock. Over the off-season, he has put on 10kg in the gym. If he keeps working on his defense, I think he would do well in the lock position.

 

[Old Timer]

If Ilias plays better next year than Kyle did this year, I will be over the moon bcs wè would be carving other sides up. Kyle knows perfectly well how to feed the ball to well-placed runners. Let's see if Ilias can do it better. In particular I hope to see Sloan leaving his wing to create overlaps and backup (like Lomax did) for both those two lads.

I see the situation as being about having a spine utility, not a specialist. Young LKT could absolutely come into that role bcs he now already plays lock, half and five-eight, and his physique is very solid. He does not yet play hooker but he looks like he easily could, given some coaching. Then he could be ready by 2027 to be our spine utility...or even a specialist hooker, which we may need by 2028.

If you see the situation as being about a specialist position, then Kyle is probably not your man, but skillwise or in individual brilliance is he worse than Hornby? I advise you to go look at the tries of the year package posted by getsmarty bcs what it shows is Kyle having a crucial and often clever involvement in most of the tries. He is NOT a reserve grader.

Not in the same country let alone post code as Hornby.

FMD that’s like comparing Seabiscuit & Radish.

Can’t remember if it was you or others that keep making the arguement about when Hunt didn’t play we won and everything looked chipper and what a good boy is K F.

Well what credit of that should go to Marschke after all he didn’t play in the monumental losses that K F was on the field for if people want to do that analysis.

If truth be known J M was probably better than K F in those Huntless games but how well did that go for J M so well he got the Sorbent treatment.

 

[Jubilee]

Not in the same country let alone post code as Hornby.

FMD that’s like comparing Seabiscuit & Radish.

Can’t remember if it was you or others that keep making the arguement about when Hunt didn’t play we won and everything looked chipper and what a good boy is K F.

Well what credit of that should go to Marschke after all he didn’t play in the monumental losses that K F was on the field for if people want to do that analysis.

If truth be known J M was probably better than K F in those Huntless games but how well did that go for J M so well he got the Sorbent treatment.

"skillwise or in individual brilliance is he worse than Hornby?"

Hornby was not a highly individually skilled halfback like, for example, JT or DCE. He was an excellent defender. He played for 80 mins. He never dropped his head. He supported the ball carrier. He was a great foil for Jamie Soward. He executed the coach's game plans, which were relentlessly mechanical and required no dash or genius. This was perfect for Hornby. Everyone knew it was going out the back for Boyd and if not Boyd then Gasnier or Cooper or Morris or Nightingale. What a backline!

If KF had that same team and coach around him as Hornby did, you might be telling us how great he is too.

 

[Old Timer]

"skillwise or in individual brilliance is he worse than Hornby?"

Hornby was not a highly individually skilled halfback like, for example, JT or DCE. He was an excellent defender. He played for 80 mins. He never dropped his head. He supported the ball carrier. He was a great foil for Jamie Soward. He executed the coach's game plans, which were relentlessly mechanical and required no dash or genius. This was perfect for Hornby. Everyone knew it was going out the back for Boyd and if not Boyd then Gasnier or Cooper or Morris or Nightingale. What a backline!

If KF had that same team and coach around him as Hornby did, you might be telling us how great he is too.

I personally think you’re doing Hornby a great disservice.