Kyle Flanagan

[Hound of Dracula]

The issue is threefold

He is a proven reserve grader at strong clubs because he is slow, predictable and has a very poor kicking game so what were people thinking would be his attraction to a struggling club like us?

We just accepted his fathers word that he would get the best out of him (meaning more than what other coaches could) and we allowed him to be extended early despite him still being slow, predictable and having a very poor kicking game.

We never entertained chasing an elite half to solve what has been a long term and festering problem that holds our team back. Instead we allowed nepotism of the 1st order because at our club he isn’t a depth signing he is a walk up start each and every week.

Would agree 100% if forwards were laying the platform

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

The thing that makes me laugh about this merkin of a team is, they accept mediocrity. They are trying to make excuses why one of the worst halves in this league isn’t that bad. Meanwhile, the bullgrubs go out and buy one of the best up and coming halves when they’re already leading the comp. I hate this team as much as I love them. All they do is bring misery. f**k St George Illawarra. Go and get f**ked you miserable merkins

 

[KingFlanno7]

NRL's next big story as halves pressure cooker takes toll

How DCE saga could bring Flanno headache to a head

wwos.nine.com.au

Flanno is in denial. It's sad that our head coach is dumb enough to pile even more pressure on himself and Kyle. He has more chance of getting the flick then he does getting an extension that's for sure.

 

[Gomarchin]

No wonder we don't have line speed in defense - half our blokes would be gassed withing the first 10 minutes

I don't think this team is as fit as others in the NRL.

Flano's 'bigger, fitter and stronger' is a load of bollocks.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I

NRL's next big story as halves pressure cooker takes toll

How DCE saga could bring Flanno headache to a head

wwos.nine.com.au

Flanno is in denial. It's sad that our head coach is dumb enough to pile even more pressure on himself and Kyle. He has more chance of getting the flick then he does getting an extension that's for sure.

It’s his own fault for being a dumb merkin. I like the bloke. But he is putting family ahead of work and it may cost him his job.

 

[KingFlanno7]

I

It’s his own fault for being a dumb merkin. I like the bloke. But he is putting family ahead of work and it may cost him his job.

I was all for his signing but I didn't expect such a failure. Luckily for me KingFlanno has another meaning..
"King Flanno" likely refers to a king-size set of flannel sheets.

 

[Dragon David]

We need 2 marquee props and 1 marquee halfback. We will then be ladder leaders. Get it done Dragons!!!

 

[KingFlanno7]

I don't think this team is as fit as others in the NRL.

Flano's 'bigger, fitter and stronger' is a load of bollocks.

Good point. I thought he brought in some top shelf performance staff ?

 

[since77]

The issue is threefold

He is a proven reserve grader at strong clubs because he is slow, predictable and has a very poor kicking game so what were people thinking would be his attraction to a struggling club like us?

We just accepted his fathers word that he would get the best out of him (meaning more than what other coaches could) and we allowed him to be extended early despite him still being slow, predictable and having a very poor kicking game.

We never entertained chasing an elite half to solve what has been a long term and festering problem that holds our team back. Instead we allowed nepotism of the 1st order because at our club he isn’t a depth signing he is a walk up start each and every week.

Ok so drop Kyle. This is still ignoring the elephant in the room.

Lets say Kyle doesn’t play in the last two games. Our forwards still get smashed, bashed, trampled over and embarrassed. Because that’s where we lost those games. The scores stay pretty much the same. Kyle might be a weakness - and we can argue how major or minor that is - but he is not the most fundamental problem this roster has. Replace him with either of the two other reserve grade standard players who we have and nothing changes. Whoever kicks is still kicking from deep inside their own half every single set. Whoever plays half is still playing behind a pack that can’t get field position and gets dominated and humiliated in the ruck.

It does my head in that people seem so fixated on a problem that if “fixed” by replacing him, doesn’t even go close to changing the results of the last 2 games.

If we’re all going to be angry - and we absolutely have a right to be angry - it should be aimed at the fact we can’t attract or assemble a competitive forward pack. Because that’s by far our biggest problem. And until that changes the 6 and about to be 7 years we haven’t played finals will turn into 8, 9, 10…….

 

[56to66]

I can't believe all this write-up is about Kyle. The club has done nothing for 14 years; let's not blame one person. The Bulldogs have been in two grand finals and will be in this grand final. Reality check.

 

[KingFlanno7]

Flanno definately has a few friends/family in this forum. Just as in denial as he is it's hilarious

 

[jay mac]

If Kyle had a kicking game, this would not even be a story. I genuinely believe our problems stem from having no kicking game. Bring back Ilias in the 7 and reinvent Kyle as a ball playing back rower ala Mann or weak gutted dog.

 

[SEAT 1A]

If we’re all going to be angry - and we absolutely have a right to be angry - it should be aimed at the fact we can’t attract or assemble a competitive forward pack. Because that’s by far our biggest problem. And until that changes the 6 and about to be 7 years we haven’t played finals will turn into 8, 9, 10…….

Unfortunately, I'm past angry.

Was mighty angry in the Mary years. Now, just hope for a completive game and after the BNE game knowing putting a score on just won't happen and we hold on.

The injuries have put the year to bed however, the young forwards have been a shining light as I can't see any Alpha's coming our way. Keep Lawson and LKT in firsts.

 

[Old Timer]

Ok so drop Kyle. This is still ignoring the elephant in the room.

Lets say Kyle doesn’t play in the last two games. Our forwards still get smashed, bashed, trampled over and embarrassed. Because that’s where we lost those games. The scores stay pretty much the same. Kyle might be a weakness - and we can argue how major or minor that is - but he is not the most fundamental problem this roster has. Replace him with either of the two other reserve grade standard players who we have and nothing changes. Whoever kicks is still kicking from deep inside their own half every single set. Whoever plays half is still playing behind a pack that can’t get field position and gets dominated and humiliated in the ruck.

It does my head in that people seem so fixated on a problem that if “fixed” by replacing him, doesn’t even go close to changing the results of the last 2 games.

If we’re all going to be angry - and we absolutely have a right to be angry - it should be aimed at the fact we can’t attract or assemble a competitive forward pack. Because that’s by far our biggest problem. And until that changes the 6 and about to be 7 years we haven’t played finals will turn into 8, 9, 10…….

When the defence of K F is predicated on the back of our forwards being poor it tells us everything.

It is a given that even behind a good pack K F is sub standard it’s as simple as that.

You can’t keep investing in mediocrity.

Whilst our forwards are indeed struggling to make yardage what do you think they feel when it goes to K F for a pop gun kick down the throat of a hard running winger or full back who returns it back to his 30 or 40 metre line?

By all means the issues surrounding our forwards need to be dealt with asap but would a player with Burtons kicking game give them cause for hope?

IMO a good half with a strong kicking game and quick dash playing eyes up footy could greatly improve the lot of our forwards and give them confidence.

For example how much better do the forwards look with Cook & Liddle darting out of dummy half but alas neither has a kicking game so we double down on that by having a slow half with a poor kicking game which is totally counterproductive.

As bad as our forwards are they need someone to give them relief during the game such as a 40/20, long hang time kicks so allow us to smash the guy catching it, repeat sets when on attack, deft kicks to the corners for our wingers or to hem the opposition into the corners etc etc.

Hunt didn’t have a great kicking game but at least he did it occasionally which our forwards benefited from but no such benefit is available to the forwards now and whilst K F remains in the halves stinking up last play options our forwards will get pummeled even more so.

Our young pups in the pack now more than ever need a creative half with a relieving boot to get them on the front foot not some bog ordinary utility that couldn’t make any particular jersey his own.

 

[possm]

Ok so drop Kyle. This is still ignoring the elephant in the room.

Lets say Kyle doesn’t play in the last two games. Our forwards still get smashed, bashed, trampled over and embarrassed. Because that’s where we lost those games. The scores stay pretty much the same. Kyle might be a weakness - and we can argue how major or minor that is - but he is not the most fundamental problem this roster has. Replace him with either of the two other reserve grade standard players who we have and nothing changes. Whoever kicks is still kicking from deep inside their own half every single set. Whoever plays half is still playing behind a pack that can’t get field position and gets dominated and humiliated in the ruck.

It does my head in that people seem so fixated on a problem that if “fixed” by replacing him, doesn’t even go close to changing the results of the last 2 games.

If we’re all going to be angry - and we absolutely have a right to be angry - it should be aimed at the fact we can’t attract or assemble a competitive forward pack. Because that’s by far our biggest problem. And until that changes the 6 and about to be 7 years we haven’t played finals will turn into 8, 9, 10…….

In the first 20 minutes of most games, we have good line speed and three defenders in a tackle. The trouble is that all three tacklers go high. We need the first tackler to go low and the other to stop ball movement.

Going low stops the attacking player from moving forward, and stopping ball movement stops the offloads. Dean Young is a dreadful defensive coach and should be sacked. Most of our problems are related to line speed in defense and the inability to stop the ball carrier.

 

[jay mac]

When the defence of K F is predicated on the back of our forwards being poor it tells us everything.

It is a given that even behind a good pack K F is sub standard it’s as simple as that.

You can’t keep investing in mediocrity.

Whilst our forwards are indeed struggling to make yardage what do you think they feel when it goes to K F for a pop gun kick down the throat of a hard running winger or full back who returns it back to his 30 or 40 metre line?

By all means the issues surrounding our forwards need to be dealt with asap but would a player with Burtons kicking game give them cause for hope?

IMO a good half with a strong kicking game and quick dash playing eyes up footy could greatly improve the lot of our forwards and give them confidence.

For example how much better do the forwards look with Cook & Liddle darting out of dummy half but alas neither has a kicking game so we double down on that by having a slow half with a poor kicking game which is totally counterproductive.

As bad as our forwards are they need someone to give them relief during the game such as a 40/20, long hang time kicks so allow us to smash the guy catching it, repeat sets when on attack, deft kicks to the corners for our wingers or to hem the opposition into the corners etc etc.

Hunt didn’t have a great kicking game but at least he did it occasionally which our forwards benefited from but no such benefit is available to the forwards now and whilst K F remains in the halves stinking up last play options our forwards will get pummeled even more so.

Our young pups in the pack now more than ever need a creative half with a relieving boot to get them on the front foot not some bog ordinary utility that couldn’t make any particular jersey his own.

Genuinely interested, OT, who would you have in the 6 & 7 out of this current lot?

 

[twinkletoes]

When the defence of K F is predicated on the back of our forwards being poor it tells us everything.

It is a given that even behind a good pack K F is sub standard it’s as simple as that.

You can’t keep investing in mediocrity.

Whilst our forwards are indeed struggling to make yardage what do you think they feel when it goes to K F for a pop gun kick down the throat of a hard running winger or full back who returns it back to his 30 or 40 metre line?

By all means the issues surrounding our forwards need to be dealt with asap but would a player with Burtons kicking game give them cause for hope?

IMO a good half with a strong kicking game and quick dash playing eyes up footy could greatly improve the lot of our forwards and give them confidence.

For example how much better do the forwards look with Cook & Liddle darting out of dummy half but alas neither has a kicking game so we double down on that by having a slow half with a poor kicking game which is totally counterproductive.

As bad as our forwards are they need someone to give them relief during the game such as a 40/20, long hang time kicks so allow us to smash the guy catching it, repeat sets when on attack, deft kicks to the corners for our wingers or to hem the opposition into the corners etc etc.

Hunt didn’t have a great kicking game but at least he did it occasionally which our forwards benefited from but no such benefit is available to the forwards now and whilst K F remains in the halves stinking up last play options our forwards will get pummeled even more so.

Our young pups in the pack now more than ever need a creative half with a relieving boot to get them on the front foot not some bog ordinary utility that couldn’t make any particular jersey his own.

All the more reason Old Timer that I was so disappointed we didn't seem to have a real crack at Fogharty...he would have been ideal for a couple of seasons while we progressed say Reed through the ranks...I just can't understand how this club operates...

 

[56to66]

I think the BOD should sign DCE, taking it out of Flanagan's hands, as they did with McGregor's recruitment back then.

This gives him no option but to start with DCE/Atkinson as our halves next year.

 

[Wolfgang90]

We don't have anyone in the squad that has a good kicking game. We have issue with run meters without our backs doing the heavy lifting. Our line speed sucks because we have old players in the pack & not very mobile players on the edge, it's a recipe for disaster.

The one time we looked dangerous v Sharks & other teams was through our offloads. It lasted about 15mins then disappeared for the rest of the game.

 

[since77]

When the defence of K F is predicated on the back of our forwards being poor it tells us everything.

It is a given that even behind a good pack K F is sub standard it’s as simple as that.

You can’t keep investing in mediocrity.

Whilst our forwards are indeed struggling to make yardage what do you think they feel when it goes to K F for a pop gun kick down the throat of a hard running winger or full back who returns it back to his 30 or 40 metre line?

By all means the issues surrounding our forwards need to be dealt with asap but would a player with Burtons kicking game give them cause for hope?

IMO a good half with a strong kicking game and quick dash playing eyes up footy could greatly improve the lot of our forwards and give them confidence.

For example how much better do the forwards look with Cook & Liddle darting out of dummy half but alas neither has a kicking game so we double down on that by having a slow half with a poor kicking game which is totally counterproductive.

As bad as our forwards are they need someone to give them relief during the game such as a 40/20, long hang time kicks so allow us to smash the guy catching it, repeat sets when on attack, deft kicks to the corners for our wingers or to hem the opposition into the corners etc etc.

Hunt didn’t have a great kicking game but at least he did it occasionally which our forwards benefited from but no such benefit is available to the forwards now and whilst K F remains in the halves stinking up last play options our forwards will get pummeled even more so.

Our young pups in the pack now more than ever need a creative half with a relieving boot to get them on the front foot not some bog ordinary utility that couldn’t make any particular jersey his own.

Ok so as I said drop Kyle. I don’t care. I’m not defending him. Replace him with another reserve grader. Because those are the other options. And what happens? Nothing. Because the real problem lies elsewhere. Put Nathan Cleary in our team the last two weeks and we still get walked over just as badly.
And please don’t give me that nonsense of “how must the forwards feel after a bad kick?“ They’re half the reason the kick was bad! Let’s not feel sorry for that pathetic, soft, ineffectual rabble. If they did their job, we’d be kicking from better field position. Our forwards are junk. Some green shoots with the young ones coming through but as a whole, as a pack, they’re soft, slow and out of their league. Worst pack in the NRL.
I really don’t care who plays halfback. And I don’t care if Kyle spends the rest of the season playing reserve grade. Just don’t expect different results if he does get dropped. Because he ain’t the biggest problem in this team.