Minimise Disruption: Mark Geyer’s Advice to Dragons Amid Shane Flanagan’s Job Battle

Former rugby league tough guy Mark Geyer has expressed his belief that the Dragons should avoid terminating Shane Flanagan’s contract mid-season, instead signalling that this will be his final year as head coach.

Although Flanagan is signed through to the end of 2028, the St George Illawarra club has suffered a string of ten consecutive losses under his management, spanning last season and this year, prompting increased calls for the 2016 premiership-winning coach to be dismissed.

The situation has worsened, as Queensland State of Origin player Jaydn Su’A has decided to leave at the end of the season instead of exercising a player option. Meanwhile, promising talent Loko Pasifiki Tonga, who is under contract until the end of 2027, recently sought permission to negotiate with other clubs immediately.

Tonga has been left feeling bewildered and demoralised by his ongoing absence from the first-grade squad, although his request to leave was declined.

Geyer shared his views on the issues surrounding Flanagan and the Dragons on the The Continuous Call Team’s Mark My Words podcast.

“I’d aim to keep disruptions to a minimum this year,” Geyer stated during the 2GB podcast.

“If I were an interim coach seeking a job, I wouldn’t take this one because I wouldn’t want my performance judged based on the current situation. I’d prefer to be assessed on what I can bring to the table next season.

“So I wouldn’t fire him; instead, I’d state, ‘You have the entire year, and even if you manage to defy the odds and make the finals, that’s perfectly fine. Just remember this is your last year. Go out and do what you think is right.’

“If you’re Dean Young or Ben Hornby or anyone looking for a full-time role, being an interim coach of this Dragons team at the moment isn’t ideal. You might make a minor impact, but it won’t be transformative.”

Mark “Piggy” Riddell, a former rugby league cult figure who played 92 of his 251 NRL games with the Dragons, echoed Geyer’s sentiments.

“It’s too big a gamble,” Riddell commented.

“When it comes to aspiring head coaches, those names you mentioned – Dean Young, Ben Hornby, and Te’o – are always in the conversation for the next roles.

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“The risk is that if they take that role and don’t perform well, it can harm their reputation and set them back in their career. So, it’ll be intriguing to observe how things unfold over the coming weeks.”

Geyer added, “It seems they’re playing with heavy restrictions.”

The Dragons, currently at the bottom of the ladder, are set to take on the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium this Saturday night.