Phil Gould has expressed a fierce critique of the St George Illawarra Dragons’ leadership, targeting the club’s veteran players and urging them to take responsibility for their alarming 0-5 start in the 2026 season.
He stated that the burden of the Dragons’ rebuilding phase should not fall solely on the young players, instead calling on the established members of the squad to “step up and rectify the situation” following their crushing defeat to the Cowboys, which marked their ninth consecutive loss.
“It’s clear to see with the Dragons that their situation has deteriorated each week, culminating in a performance like that, which may have been their low point this past weekend,” Gould remarked on 100% Footy.
“I’m keen to see what Shane Flanagan decides regarding the lineup on Tuesday… They possess some genuinely talented young players, but I firmly believe that when a team is in a rut like this, it’s not the younger players’ job to pull them out.”
“It’s not their responsibility to resolve this issue.
Clint Gutherson of the Dragons reacts after conceding a try. Getty
“The players responsible for getting the club in this predicament are the ones who must work diligently to get the team back on track, which will create a better atmosphere for introducing those young players into a more positive environment.”
Gould acknowledged that the 32-0 drubbing on Saturday would have been “harrowing” for the young players caught up in the torrent of frustration from the home crowd.
“It must have been a daunting experience for some of those younger players during the other night, standing in the middle of [Kogarah Oval] being booed by a crowd when they’ve had no involvement in how the Dragons have reached this point in the season.”
While the prospect of improvement seems remote, Gould noted that a single week could drastically change the confidence and mindset of an NRL team, potentially reversing their fortunes.
“They’ve gradually worsened each week to the extent that there’s been a complete lack of confidence and resilience evident in their performance the other night,” said Gould.
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Phil Gould discussed the impact of the Dragons’ situation on the players’ mentality. Nine
“Yet, within a week, everything can change. They’re seasoned athletes.
“Many of those players have extensive NRL experience, and I believe it’s their responsibility to turn the situation around, rather than bringing in younger players just to placate fans or satisfy the media.
“Those individuals who contributed to this problem must now be the ones to resolve it, creating a more supportive and confident environment before introducing the younger players and placing this burden on their shoulders.
“Some of the young players in that recent match looked completely overwhelmed, caught in the chaos around them.
“There was a noticeable absence of direction and leadership from the senior players.”
Shane Flanagan addresses the media. Fox Footy
“Consider how they respond when their senior teammates perform at that level. Such poor experiences can negatively affect their confidence for years.
“Flanagan has a duty not only to the club but also to the young players; the seasoned members he has acquired should be the ones to stand up and say, ‘We’ll overcome this together, and if we fail, the blame is on us. Let us take responsibility for resolving this situation.’
“Rather than just introducing younger players and shifting the burden onto them.”
Gould reiterated his condemnation of the senior squad, emphasising their failure to provide mentorship and guidance amid the club’s unprecedented struggles.
This season marks the slowest start for the club since the merger that formed the Dragons in 1998.
The Sea Eagles celebrate after scoring a try. Getty
“I worry that at times they might overreact… putting young players in the midst of this situation isn’t their responsibility to fix.
Just look at what Manly achieved last week. Can you imagine if they had used a team full of debutants or players in their second or third games, only to perform that way on a Friday night?
It would have been a distressing experience. Older players should be the ones pushed to resolve this. That is their duty.
“They are the ones being compensated for this. They need to step up and make a change.”
The Dragons are set to host the Manly Sea Eagles this coming Friday in Wollongong.
Manly recently parted ways with coach Anthony Seibold after starting the season with three straight losses, before pulling off a surprise victory against the Dolphins last week under Kieran Foran’s leadership.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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