Flanagan gone? Dragons CEO, Chairman call press conference for Monday morning
Peter Maniaty
44 minutes ago
https://library.nospam47.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp/s3/2026-04/Shane%20Flanagan%20042026.jpg.webp?itok=soCyCr-5
Getty Images
Add The Sporting News on Google
The St George Illawarra Dragons have called a press conference for 9:45am on Monday morning.
Chairman Andrew Lancaster and CEO Tim Watsford will address the media on what is expected to be the future of head coach Shane Flanagan.
After seven rounds in the 2026 season the Dragons sit last on the NRL ladder with an 0-7 record and Flanagan’s future has become increasingly untenable in recent weeks.
If, as expected, Flanagan is removed from his position he will become the second NRL head coach to depart in 2026 following the sacking of former Manly boss Anthony Seibold after Round 4.
MORE: NRL 2026 team lists - Every side’s predicted lineup for Round 8
St George Illawarra’s 30-12 loss to the Rabbitohs on Saturday was the club's 11th consecutive first-grade defeat including the back end of the 2025 season.
Speaking to the media after Saturday’s loss, 60-year-old Flanagan cut a forlorn figure who seemed resigned to his likely fate.
“I get to work every day and all I can do is do my best to prepare the players the best I can,” he said.
“If it doesn’t work and they decide to make another decision, well I’ve just got to live with it.”
A former premiership winning coach with Cronulla in 2016, Flanagan took over the reins at the Dragons in 2024 and has a 19-35 record from his 54 matches in charge at a win rate of just 35 per cent.
273-game Dragons legend and current South Sydney assistant Ben Hornby is considered a front-runner for the long-term coaching position, however in the short-term assistant Dean Young may well take the reins with the support of Michael Ennis who only linked with the joint venture club in the off-season.

