Kyle Flanagan

[Old Timer]

I was as objective as you can get… looking at it from both sides of the coin not just the blind both Flanagan hatred

Nothing like a good old throwaway line to support your position.

Flanagan has had how many homes and never cemented 1 until he came to us so did all those clubs get him wrong?

How many of those clubs are top 8 contenders?

How many of those clubs upgraded their on-field kicking choices?

It's not hatred it is just pointing out the bleeding obvious that having a good half with a good kicking games gives you much more of a chance than without one.

SF is not giving us that chance and then couple that with a slow coach backline, next year our young forwards will be exhausted even earlier in the season as we will be minus JDB.

Having KF at 7 is a great way to piss of our young forwards and open the door for poachers.

 

[blacksafake]

So replace Kyle with whoever you think will kick "better". Ilias, Glover, whoever. The forwards will still plod, still make dumb unforced errors and the new saviour halfback will still be kicking from poor field position straight down the fullback's throat.
The first twenty minutes of the Souths game we were actually winning the yardage battle, or at least staying in the fight. Then the dumb mistakes started. Throw in a few dodgy ref calls and it all started to snowball. Not the halfback's fault at all.
I don't have any allegiance to Kyle, replace him with whoever you want. I don't care if he ever plays first grade again for us. Just don't tell me we all of a sudden go from losing 40-0 to winning the game or even being vaguely competitive against Souths just because we swap out Kyle for someone highly unlikely to be capable of making a 40 point difference.
To be honest I would have thought the game against the Warriors was actually the game to be critical of Kyle. A better 7 in that game and I think we win the game with all that possesion early in the second half. Just one more try and we win that game. We had more than enough posession to convert that field position into points.
I think the more reactionary section of the fanbase just want a Kyle shaped scapegoat when there are WAY bigger issues than who wears the 7 when you lose 40-0.

Agree
At least Sloan can’t be blamed this time

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Also, LKT CANNOT tackle with his left shoulder, which was the cause of a missed tackle, where he was steamrolled over to score a try by the Wabbits. He went in with his right shoulder, causing his body to be in front of the ball runner, which then creates your head to be looking away.
I wonder if things like this are EVER picked up by coaching staff??????
Fundamentally U9 effort!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has done this a few times.. assumed (hoped) he had an injury. It is one of the basics, agreed.

 

[Flinstone]

The impotency of our forward pack is one thing but it doesn't cause pop gun 35-40m low trajectory easily returned kicks from a bloke that compounds them with highly ineffectual touch finders and a total lack of 40/20's.

Any decent side has times when their forwards struggle for yardage but are buoyed if not rescued by a couple of long kicks or a fortuitous 40/20. Our forwards very rarely ever have that luxury.

KF is unable to kick from a standing position or off just 1 step instead he has to look, catch, take a couple of little pussy steps to try and steady himself and meanwhile the opposition are closing in on him creating pressure and that all occurs because he is not naturally gifted and when you see players much smaller than him kicking the shit out of it and getting their forwards rolling our forwards must scratch their heads and say when will we get one of those.

KF is rusted onto thinking KF is doing a good job and so are you but if either of you were objective you would acknowledge that our forwards get no respite unless it's back to back penalties or ruck infringements.

As I say put KF in as a kicking halfback in any other side and their forwards will wilt under the pressure he creates due to being given that task.

Fair assessment of Kyles kicking, he does not seem to have a quick release, sure the team would benefit from a genuine halfback, however we know he is just there filling in as we don't really have anyone better right now.
What's worrying is that if Atkinson plays 6 and doesn't have a big boot, Flanagan could end up in the #7 jumper again next year and there will be more of the same.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Nothing like a good old throwaway line to support your position.

Flanagan has had how many homes and never cemented 1 until he came to us so did all those clubs get him wrong?

How many of those clubs are top 8 contenders?

How many of those clubs upgraded their on-field kicking choices?

It's not hatred it is just pointing out the bleeding obvious that having a good half with a good kicking games gives you much more of a chance than without one.

SF is not giving us that chance and then couple that with a slow coach backline, next year our young forwards will be exhausted even earlier in the season as we will be minus JDB.

Having KF at 7 is a great way to piss of our young forwards and open the door for poachers.

The problem is we don’t have an nrl standard halfback at the club. This needs to change next year, or it will be more of the same.

 

[hook hook]

Nothing like a good old throwaway line to support your position.

Flanagan has had how many homes and never cemented 1 until he came to us so did all those clubs get him wrong?

How many of those clubs are top 8 contenders?

How many of those clubs upgraded their on-field kicking choices?

It's not hatred it is just pointing out the bleeding obvious that having a good half with a good kicking games gives you much more of a chance than without one.

SF is not giving us that chance and then couple that with a slow coach backline, next year our young forwards will be exhausted even earlier in the season as we will be minus JDB.

Having KF at 7 is a great way to piss of our young forwards and open the door for poachers.

I have publicly stated the Kyle is not the answer. I have also publicly stated that his kicking game is not up to scratch… all I’m saying that he is not the sole problem, the problems run deep with forwards, backs and halves. Better forwards would help his kicking game just as much as a better kicking game would help the forwards. He is not the sole source of blame and despite what everyone looking for someone to blame thinks, he’s the best 7 at the club.

 

[Old Timer]

I have publicly stated the Kyle is not the answer. I have also publicly stated that his kicking game is not up to scratch… all I’m saying that he is not the sole problem, the problems run deep with forwards, backs and halves. Better forwards would help his kicking game just as much as a better kicking game would help the forwards. He is not the sole source of blame and despite what everyone looking for someone to blame thinks, he’s the best 7 at the club.

Best 7 at the club is purely a view not a fact.

We only saw 1 other 7 for a fleeting moment and that was that.

In the end I contender that our forwards would go a shit load better if we had a good kicking half and I also contend that KF's kicking game wouldn't improve 1 iota at any of the best clubs with dominant forward packs and it is for that very reason we have him.

Be it 7, 9 or 14 he adds nothing other than effort which can't be denied him but it just isn't enough however rest assured Daddy thinks otherwise and is one the biggest reason why our forwards suffer and will continue to do so.

 

[since77]

In the end I contender that our forwards would go a shit load better if we had a good kicking half and I also contend that KF's kicking game wouldn't improve 1 iota at any of the best clubs with dominant forward packs and it is for that very reason we have him.

Respectfully OT I think you're missing the point. You have the order around the wrong way.
It's the forwards job first to get us rolling down the field. Then the kicker's job to take advantage of - or at least maintain - that field position and ruck dominance. That's the way football has always worked. You keep saying the forwards would do better if the kicker was better - but no that's not how it works.
There are the very rare kickers who can occasionally turn a bad set into a good set with a great kick - even our much maligned Hunt could pull a timely 40/20 out of his ass occasionally (but rarely converted that into points afterwards) - but in general if the forwards struggle then the kicker struggles. If the defence is abysmal, the kicker struggles. Both things happened in the Souths game. The best kicker in NRL history doesn't change the result of the Souths game. Nor do they even come close to evening things out. All the rot started in the middle of the park - the forwards.
I agree Kyle's an ordinary kicker. I agree he's an ordinary half and we need someone better for '26. But only a minor problem in the grand scheme of things against Souths.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

The Kyle bashing always intensifies after a depressing loss. The forward pack we put out on the weekend though was nsw cup standard, and they got rolled. Giving no hope for any momentum or pressure to be built. We are limping to end of the season.
The only highlight was Halangahu, who should play a fair bit off the bench next year, he has a great motor on him.
Add both Couchman, Egan, SuA, Stewart, Kerr, Pacifika Tonga and even Klemmer and it looks a lot better. Leilua is now bench impact also, not a starter.
Still need a 7 and some speed out wide.

 

[UDGE]

Here is actual stats from thursday night souths kick totals 29 kicks for 764 meters an average of 26.3 meters per kick ,dragons kick totals 21 kicks for 747 meters an average of 35.5 meters per kick but don't worry about actual facts just keep bashing away with the agenda . Dead set LOL

 

[hook hook]

Here is actual stats from thursday night souths kick totals 29 kicks for 764 meters an average of 26.3 meters per kick ,dragons kick totals 21 kicks for 747 meters an average of 35.5 meters per kick but don't worry about actual facts just keep bashing away with the agenda . Dead set LOL

Humphries undoubtedly has a bigger boot but The question is why were our kicks longer? Because we got dominated in the middle and kicked from our own end, while they mainly put up attacking kicks from inside our half.

no doubt better kicking would have helped but it’s nowhere near the massive issue that Kyle bashers make it out to be

 

[UDGE]

That must make some people feel a little silly right now and no their not the words i wanted to use but i'm trying to be nice to my fellow dragons brethren . Here it is can't pull a rabbit out of your hat magic isn't real bunt was our half back flanagan was a utility/6 until they thought togia was ready which he isn't by the way bunt sooked and left good riddance we then bought ilias as it turned out demetrio was right he has glimpses of first grade standard that's it he's been made to look good by a red hot reserves team full of ex nrl and future nrl standard players eg when a lot of those players were taken away the boys were belted in 3 out of 5 games they managed a draw with a team that had also been depleted by supplying players to firsts and then had a one point win in game were ilias finally had a great game the other 4 he was rubbish i believe glover is better and should have probably been given a go against a bottom 8 side who knows might have been good might have got rolled but he is gone so other than flanagan who exactly would you geniuses have put in the 7 jumper reed has just started his apprenticeship and looks the goods reserves next year with togia hopefully they gel . In the meantime it will be flanagan and atkinson unless we can buy the marquee half back we need till reed is ready . Glover or Ilias had to go to clear the road for Reed anyway so no great loss there lets hope they can boot Ilias off to super league . So in summary we didn't and don't have anyone with enough talent and or experience to play half in firsts so we have a utility player filling in for 7 till something changes and no it should not have got to here but that is not kyle's fault and he's actually gone alright with the brick in the deep end situation he's been put in but once again don't let facts get in the road of your player bashing agenda

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

The framework of this constant argument with Flano is something that the ghost of Shakespeare would grovel over for his next play called "hysteria"

One group on the forum saids that a web of problems needs to be solved and take you eyes off a mono solution being the answer.

The other group saids that if Kyle Flano was not playing halfback all will be solved....... and continues too blame him and and his selection (and discounts every other stat week in week out and the impact)....... well unless we win............yet it it probably concensus that his replacement would be marginally worse or marginally better - status quo most likely

Happy to put a bet on that one !

So a continual laser blast, with plutonium distain, at one player will resolve everything?

The next up half would either get blasted just as hard and or finally would start attacking LKT (which is radio silence most weeks despite some fairly average games and pretty bad defence)

Not to mention we are no doubt moving on Glover....that happened and probably Ilias.........so with 13 players out injured why give them a sniff ???? They wont be here in 2026 and Atkinson will !

And any time it is raised that our forwards are dominated in line speed, wrestle, hitups, kick returns etc.......well u cant go there ? And dont share any stats cause they will be twisted every time.

You can not show stats like the first two sets vs the Warriors and we gave up 30m !!!!!! 30m in that field position wrestle despite we kicked longer !!!!! disgraceful when both teams are fit firing first 5mins of the game !!!! Yet we kicked longer than the Waz and found grass even !!!!!!

Its not acceptable ! even when we have a full pack to choose from we dont hold our ground on the pitch often enough !!!!

It is easy entertainment though and we all get a giggle dont we ?

Dont poke the bear

Well maybe the true eye poking intent is to help Flano become more resilient and be a stalwart of the top17 for years to come?

Maybe ? it seems to be working as he gets picked every week and has another two year to play for the Dragons

Best two years ever to test the ability of a few Dragons Fans to apply cognitive behavioural techniques of redirecting mono anger to a web of solutions mindset !!!!

 

[sammymills]

That must make some people feel a little silly right now and no their not the words i wanted to use but i'm trying to be nice to my fellow dragons brethren . Here it is can't pull a rabbit out of your hat magic isn't real bunt was our half back flanagan was a utility/6 until they thought togia was ready which he isn't by the way bunt sooked and left good riddance we then bought ilias as it turned out demetrio was right he has glimpses of first grade standard that's it he's been made to look good by a red hot reserves team full of ex nrl and future nrl standard players eg when a lot of those players were taken away the boys were belted in 3 out of 5 games they managed a draw with a team that had also been depleted by supplying players to firsts and then had a one point win in game were ilias finally had a great game the other 4 he was rubbish i believe glover is better and should have probably been given a go against a bottom 8 side who knows might have been good might have got rolled but he is gone so other than flanagan who exactly would you geniuses have put in the 7 jumper reed has just started his apprenticeship and looks the goods reserves next year with togia hopefully they gel . In the meantime it will be flanagan and atkinson unless we can buy the marquee half back we need till reed is ready . Glover or Ilias had to go to clear the road for Reed anyway so no great loss there lets hope they can boot Ilias off to super league . So in summary we didn't and don't have anyone with enough talent and or experience to play half in firsts so we have a utility player filling in for 7 till something changes and no it should not have got to here but that is not kyle's fault and he's actually gone alright with the brick in the deep end situation he's been put in but once again don't let facts get in the road of your player bashing agenda

mate you make good points, but please learn how to write if you are going to post.
Reading this gave me headaches, a full stop or comma wouldn't go astray.

 

[UDGE]

mate you make good points, but please learn how to write if you are going to post.
Reading this gave me headaches, a full stop or comma wouldn't go astray.

Oh i'm sorry i didn't go to oxford, i' shall try and do better with my grammer next time. And yes i said that in a really fake pompous voice lol . And yes actual facts do make good points eh Sammy . There wasn't to much decent schooling where i came from but there was plenty of rugby league , anyway have a good one my friend , hopefully we can get a few players back this week and knock the eagles off their perch .

 

[Eastview]

At this point I'd take Josh McCrone over him

 

[Bayside Dragon]

The problem is we don’t have an nrl standard halfback at the club. This needs to change next year, or it will be more of the same.

The framework of this constant argument with Flano is something that the ghost of Shakespeare would grovel over for his next play called "hysteria"

One group on the forum saids that a web of problems needs to be solved and take you eyes off a mono solution being the answer.

The other group saids that if Kyle Flano was not playing halfback all will be solved....... and continues too blame him and and his selection (and discounts every other stat week in week out and the impact)....... well unless we win............yet it it probably concensus that his replacement would be marginally worse or marginally better - status quo most likely

Happy to put a bet on that one !

So a continual laser blast, with plutonium distain, at one player will resolve everything?

The next up half would either get blasted just as hard and or finally would start attacking LKT (which is radio silence most weeks despite some fairly average games and pretty bad defence)

Not to mention we are no doubt moving on Glover....that happened and probably Ilias.........so with 13 players out injured why give them a sniff ???? They wont be here in 2026 and Atkinson will !

And any time it is raised that our forwards are dominated in line speed, wrestle, hitups, kick returns etc.......well u cant go there ? And dont share any stats cause they will be twisted every time.

You can not show stats like the first two sets vs the Warriors and we gave up 30m !!!!!! 30m in that field position wrestle despite we kicked longer !!!!! disgraceful when both teams are fit firing first 5mins of the game !!!! Yet we kicked longer than the Waz and found grass even !!!!!!

Its not acceptable ! even when we have a full pack to choose from we dont hold our ground on the pitch often enough !!!!

It is easy entertainment though and we all get a giggle dont we ?

Dont poke the bear

Well maybe the true eye poking intent is to help Flano become more resilient and be a stalwart of the top17 for years to come?

Maybe ? it seems to be working as he gets picked every week and has another two year to play for the Dragons

Best two years ever to test the ability of a few Dragons Fans to apply cognitive behavioural techniques of redirecting mono anger to a web of solutions mindset !!!!

A very well-written post. People seem to forget that we were voted team most likely to win the wooden spoon before a ball was kicked.

Might add that Kyle was resigned in the wake of the team capitulating in his absence after he was suspended towards the end of last year. Had he been available, I've no doubt we would have been in the 8. Hunt & Lomax were agitating for release and there were no halfback heir-apparents demanding inclusion ready for this year. Sullivan & Junior were gone and our left side attack was humming. Resigning Kyle was definitely the right thing to do at the time. Can't remember a huge outcry at the time.

Very disappointing that this forum has such a veracious appetite to eat it's own. People should have a look at the Knights forum. Nowhere near as much vilification òf individual players. Even though they are much better placed to win the spoon, they pack out their stadium far more often than us. They seem a more supportive fan base than us to a team that is way more woeful than ours.

As such an ungrateful pack of bastards as we are -maybe we don’t deserve better than what we've got.

 

[Old Timer]

A very well-written post. People seem to forget that we were voted team most likely to win the wooden spoon before a ball was kicked.

Might add that Kyle was resigned in the wake of the team capitulating in his absence after he was suspended towards the end of last year. Had he been available, I've no doubt we would have been in the 8. Hunt & Lomax were agitating for release and there were no halfback heir-apparents demanding inclusion ready for this year. Sullivan & Junior were gone and our left side attack was humming. Resigning Kyle was definitely the right thing to do at the time. Can't remember a huge outcry at the time.

Very disappointing that this forum has such a veracious appetite to eat it's own. People should have a look at the Knights forum. Nowhere near as much vilification òf individual players. Even though they are much better placed to win the spoon, they pack out their stadium far more often than us. They seem a more supportive fan base than us to a team that is way more woeful than ours.

As such an ungrateful pack of bastards as we are -maybe we don’t deserve better than what we've got.

All that you’ve said re KF may have some relevance in other threads but are irrelevant here.

KF was extended prematurely and with no pressure on us to do so and there was plenty of outcry when it was done.

We were never going to make the 8 last year with or without him and the thought that his suspension alone caused us to miss the 8 is to be honest mystifying because if he was that good we would have already been well and truly in the 8 and that also rings true for this year where we have been “his” team all year.

 

[Old Timer]

Amendment to previous post #878
I should have said
@All that you’ve said other than directly about KF may have relevance in other threads but are irrelevant here.”

 

[Bayside Dragon]

Amendment to previous post #878
I should have said
@All that you’ve said other than directly about KF may have relevance in other threads but are irrelevant here.”

Seems some of us need our afternoon nap.