‘I Won’t Back Down’: Shane Flanagan Stands Firm in Defeat as Dragons Reflect on Missed Chances

On Friday night, Shane Flanagan found himself on the touchline, intensely focused on each play as uncertainty continues to shroud his future with the Dragons.

The beleaguered coach chose to abandon the familiar confines of the coach’s box at WIN Stadium, opting instead for a closer view next to general manager of football Ben Haran. Unfortunately for them, their side suffered a tenth consecutive defeat, extending back to last season, as they fell to a rejuvenated Sea Eagles team benefiting from a coaching shake-up under Kieran Foran.

The Dragons were overwhelmed initially, trailing 16-0 just a quarter of the way through the match. However, they made a commendable comeback to take an 18-16 lead early in the second half.

However, as has often been the case, the Dragons squandered their second-half advantage, ultimately succumbing 28-18 to Manly in front of a dispirited home crowd.

The home side had ample chances to either extend their lead or stage a comeback late in the game but their failure to execute proved detrimental once more.

“There was definitely an improvement,” Flanagan remarked during his post-match press conference.

“We competed hard, and if a couple of things had gone our way, we might have managed to clinch a win. There was a chance to score just before half-time, but we fumbled. There was another opportunity when Luciano Leilua kicked the ball – if it bounces nicely, we score, or if he passes it, we score.”

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“We had chances, and I think when confidence is low, those moments often slip away from you.

“I felt our attitude and effort were there, but our execution needed improvement.”

Flanagan was then questioned about his decision to observe from the bench rather than his usual position up in the grandstand alongside assistants Michael Ennis and Dean Young.

“I don’t want to hide in the coach’s box,” he declared.

“I’m here to fight, to win, and I stand on the sidelines with the team battling hard.

“I didn’t want to hide away while the cameras captured me up there – they could have filmed me for 80 minutes if they chose to.”

Currently, Flanagan’s squad is winless after six games this season and remains the only NRL team yet to register a victory.

With challenging fixtures against the Rabbitohs and Roosters approaching, and with Flanagan’s position potentially at stake, the query of possible team changes arose.

His response hinted that a similar lineup may take the field again next weekend.

“The dilemma, as with many NRL clubs, is what are we going to replace them with? I’ve got 28 out of our top 30 signed, and we have some injuries,” Flanagan explained.

“There’s no one sitting on the sidelines that I think is a guaranteed upgrade – it’s a tricky situation. If I had someone better available, I’d definitely put them in, believe me.”

Young forwards Jacob Halangahu and Loko Pasifiki Tonga, both highly regarded in the game, have only seen a combined total of 22 minutes of play this season. Meanwhile, halves Kade Reed and Lyhkan King-Togia are also waiting for their opportunity.

Flanagan believes that the halves combination of his son Kyle and new recruit Daniel Atkinson performed adequately, but their teammates failed to make the most of the situations created.

“They set things up well – we generated enough opportunities; we just didn’t finish them, and that’s been our issue this season,” he reflected.

As the struggling Dragons face the prospect of losing their next two games in succession, Flanagan’s coaching role could be significantly jeopardised. However, captain Damien Cook views the situation differently, asserting that the players need to take responsibility and help the club escape its current predicament.

“His leash should be long, because he [Flanagan] isn’t the problem,” Cook stated.