Dragons co-captain Clint Gutherson has emphasised that the dropped halfback Kyle Flanagan is still an “integral part” of the team, while the player who took his spot, Kade Reed, reassures fans that their relationship remains unaffected.
Just a day after the dismissal of Shane Flanagan as head coach, interim coach Dean Young made the tough decision to leave out Kyle Flanagan from the squad for the Dragons’ Anzac Day match against the Roosters.
Reed, a product of the Western Suburbs Red Devils and the Dragons academy, will be making his NRL debut this Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
After a whirlwind 48 hours, Gutherson remarked that Flanagan continues to be a vital presence within the squad, despite his recent demotion to the extended bench.
“I’ve been in touch with Kyle over the past couple of days to ensure he is doing okay personally,” Gutherson shared with the media on Wednesday.
Kyle Flanagan has been released from his role as Dragons halfback following the dismissal of his father Shane as head coach. Getty
“There are far more significant issues than just rugby league. It’s vital that we support one another,” he added.
“Kyle is still a key part of our squad and, honestly, he’s doing well.”
“The best thing for Kyle is to return to playing, and he’s still on the bench, so who knows, he could get another chance soon.”
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Reed is set to partner with five-eighth Daniel Atkinson, who has only recently joined the club this off-season.
Flanagan will provide cover from the six-man bench for the halves and hooker Damien Cook.
“Kyle is handling things as well as can be expected,” Gutherson remarked.
“We just need to rally around him and ensure he knows he’s still a valued member of this squad, and I believe he understands that.”
Shortly after being informed by Dragons management on Monday about his interim head coach appointment, Young raced to Reed’s home to deliver the news about his debut.
Dragons rookie Kade Reed. NRL Imagery
“Everything’s been good,” Reed commented regarding his rapport with Kyle Flanagan.
“Kyle has always been supportive of me and continues to be. He is understandably disappointed, but he is also happy for me. Nothing has changed between us; we’ve always had a solid relationship, and that remains the case.”
Reed is preparing for a baptism of fire as he steps into a crucial match.
As the rookie aims to guide the Dragons, currently at the bottom of the ladder, against premiership contenders in front of a 40,000-strong crowd on Anzac Day, he shows no signs of intimidation.
“I set a target at the start of the year to play in the NRL,” Reed explained.
“Whether it was early or late didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to be ready when the opportunity arose. And I am ready.”
He’s set to tackle seasoned players like Angus Crichton.
When asked about this challenge, he offered an insightful response.
“Training with teammates like Looch [Luciano Leilua] and [Jaydn] Su’A has definitely prepared me for this,” Reed said.
“Honestly, it doesn’t get much tougher than going against those two daily. I believe that has made a significant difference.”
Shane Flanagan and Ben Haran were relieved of their duties as head coach and general manager respectively on Monday.
The next day, Young parted ways with assistant coach Michael Ennis, followed by Kyle Flanagan’s removal just hours later.
“It’s been a whirlwind. A lot has transpired, and while it’s disappointing, it’s part of rugby league; you need to bounce back quickly,” Gutherson noted.
“I think we stepped up this morning during a team meeting to express our objectives and how we want to approach our training this week.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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