Jamie Soward, a premiership winner with the Dragons, has defended Dean Young’s decision to dismiss assistant coach Michael Ennis on his first day as head coach, stating that it shouldn’t be viewed with suspicion, despite speculation that Young was eliminating competition for a permanent position.
Young, who celebrated a premiership with Soward at the Saints in 2010, made significant adjustments shortly after succeeding the sacked Shane Flanagan. His first act was to place Kyle Flanagan, the former coach’s son, on the bench for the upcoming Anzac Day match against the Roosters, while also parting ways with Ennis, who oversaw the team’s attack.
Ennis, who has been mentioned as a potential full-time successor at the Dragons, expressed his shock at the decision.
The two played together at the club in 2005 before reuniting as part of the coaching staff under Flanagan this season, where Ennis and Flanagan developed a strong bond, resulting in a premiership win for the Sharks in 2016.
While it’s not common for assistant coaches to be let go mid-season following a coaching change in the NRL, Soward downplayed suggestions that Young had hidden motives for his actions, telling Wide World of Sports that such moves aren’t out of the ordinary.
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Shane Flanagan was dismissed by the Dragons this week. Getty
“Honestly, I don’t believe it’s that unusual. I was involved when Anthony Griffin was let go and Ryan Carr took over,” explained Soward, who was part of the coaching team at that time. “Ryan made some adjustments to the coaching structure, especially regarding who provided him in-game advice.
“Dean possesses the authority and the capability to galvanise the team, and if he believes it’s necessary for moving forward, then that’s what he’ll do. At this moment, it’s crucial to have a single voice guiding the players. Change is needed, and tough decisions come with these roles, which he’s implemented.”
Willie Talau, the NSW Cup coach, and Tom Eisenhuth will support Young with the NRL squad this week, while the new coach will evaluate the scenario after their match against the Roosters, as the Dragons have a bye in the following round.
In addition to Ennis’s exit, playmaker Kyle Flanagan has been benched in favour of 20-year-old Kade Reed.
Kyle Flanagan, right, has fallen to the bench. Getty
Flanagan has been a regular starting half for the Saints since 2024 and, until now, has only missed four matches due to suspension and injury.
Shane Flanagan, during his tenure, reportedly expressed concerns about Reed’s size, hesitating to grant him an NRL debut. However, Young is embracing the opportunity despite the young player’s 76kg frame.
Soward countered assertions that Flanagan was either dropped or sacked; rather, he has been reassigned due to Jacob Liddle’s injury sustained last weekend.
“Kyle wasn’t dropped,” he insisted. “He transitioned to the bench, and too much is made of that. We often blow up over a coach’s changes. If he had been dropped, he wouldn’t be playing this week.”
“I believe this could actually be helpful for Kyle. With his dad just losing his job and the team starting 0-7, it’s a complex situation. Dean is quite considerate in that regard.”
“Everyone seems to say that selections should be based on performance, and they’ve done just that. Yet, now we’re trying to spin it into a story about Kyle being benched.”
Jamie Soward. Getty
“Kyle wasn’t dropped; if he was, he wouldn’t be in the line-up.”
“Had his last name been anything other than Flanagan and if you consider the effort and competitiveness he has displayed, you’d see he has fought hard. It’s not fair to lay the blame solely on him; we’re all aware it’s a team sport.”
Soward contended that Flanagan was ideally suited for his new role, covering both hooker and halves, especially with Jacob Liddle unavailable due to injury.
“From a former Dragons’ perspective, it seems they’re without Liddle. Kyle has experience in that bench position,” Soward commented. “Given their attack needs a fresh spark and voice around the ruck, it’s a sensible move.”
Soward also highlighted Daniel Atkinson’s stagnation as a factor affecting the team’s attack in 2026.
Initially brought on to play halfback, Atkinson’s position had to change due to his underperformance. He has now been slotted in as five-eighth in Young’s debut team.
“Making it to the NRL is often about your innate skills and how you adapt to what’s in front of you, and this year, we haven’t seen that from Daniel,” Soward observed.
“We still need to see that. I think having Kyle as the stable element was a good choice to begin with, but clearly, that hasn’t panned out, leading to their decision to go with Kade Reed.”
Reed’s promotion to halfback raises questions about why Flanagan chose to leave him out of the team all season despite impressive pre-season showings that excited Red V supporters.
Coach Flanagan faced significant criticism last season after dropping Lachlan Illias, ignoring his impressive performances in the NSW Cup. Illias departed to join the Titans, where he now enjoys regular first-grade action.
Similar concerns seem to be recurring this season, but Young has now placed the promising young talent in the No.7 jersey, emphasising he wouldn’t jeopardise Reed’s long-term growth by introducing him on Anzac Day, one of the season’s marquee match-ups.
Soward stood by Shane Flanagan’s choice to exclude Reed from the NRL, arguing that the coach was simply in a tough spot.
“We often forget the underlying messages communicated by coaches. A fortnight ago, what options did he have? He was likely coaching to salvage the season. What benefit would it have served to thrust a rookie into such a high-pressure situation? If it went poorly, what would the aftermath look like?” Soward posed.
“Take the approach the Bulldogs have taken with Mitch Woods, who they’ve held off for a couple of years. Or what Ricky Stuart did with Ethan Sanders. Young players now carry the burden of expectations, being compared to established stars like Nathan Cleary.”
“There’s not a single player who enters at 18 and commands the game from the get-go; it simply doesn’t occur like that. It often requires extra time to develop. However, with Kade stepping in under limited preparation, I have every confidence he’ll perform well on Saturday.”
Compiled by SportArena.au
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