Kyle Flanagan & the coach

[Dragons Chris]

You mean losing Glover, Illias and Ward, dont think they are any better.

The players we didnt/couldnt recruit not the ones we let go.

This is what I have always thought. How many halves have come on and gone off the market since Flanno came and brought Kyle with him?
I know like everyone else he struggled under Griffin's coaching but I think Bud Sullivan is much better than Kyle.

 

[dragonheart]

I thought Bud was the best of the 3 amigos and wished also he stayed, obviously Bennet sees something in him, but maybe for hooker or 14

 

[Justadragon]

Sorry to say but I saw this headline on Fox Sport and for a moment hoped he'd done a hamstring or something like that.

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Kyle Flanagan’s brutal Vegas hit​

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Not to be

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As part of preparations for this Sunday’s Allegiant Stadium blockbuster against Canterbury, Dragons players finished a field session with a conditioning game that saw the left edge and starting middles square off against the right edge and bench middles.

And the stakes were high -- losers buy coffee.

Which at roughly US$15 a cup here in Las Vegas, is no small thing.

And apart from telling you that the left edge lost, there have also been whispers from inside Dragons camp suggesting said group then drew straws on who was taking the hit for all of it -- and Flanagan lucked out.

You didn't need ten guesses to know it would be KF

 

[Eric]

I just want to say, I can't believe we haven't even played round 1 yet and this story is all over the media. We know Flanno reads it because every time he ridiculously insists Kyle has been one of our best for the past two years, he refers to it (the media speculation about Kyle). What good can Flanno possibly see coming from this?

I've been very supportive of Flanno but really, he seems to be unraveling.

 

[dragonheart]

Look i really hope Kyle's has a blinder and we beat the bullgrubs, and the media jumps on another team.

 

[Justadragon]

I just want to say, I can't believe we haven't even played round 1 yet and this story is all over the media. We know Flanno reads it because every time he ridiculously insists Kyle has been one of our best for the past two years, he refers to it (the media speculation about Kyle). What good can Flanno possibly see coming from this?

I've been very supportive of Flanno but really, he seems to be unraveling.

One way or another the end will eventuate this year Eric

 

[dragonheart]

I think Flanno should do less interviews with the media. Like Bennet Bellamy etc

Less is more!

 

[Eric]

I think Flanno should do less interviews with the media. Like Bennet Bellamy etc

Less is more!

Always insisting he has been one of our best for the past 2 years, which he literally always does, isn't doing anyone except our competition any good. Piling more pressure on him and Kyle. Making potential recruits raise their eyebrows and say "WTF is going on there?". Piss teammates off who really have been good. That's why I say, what does he think he is going to accomplish by this? It's bizarre!

 

[redv4life]

 

[jodragon40]

Watching face to face now Matty Johns and our coach. He speaks very well as I would expect.

You have to feel for him having every man and his dog having a go at his boy. Its tough I've coached my two boys and been accused of favouritism and nepotism. But the team knew if one of my boys weren't good enough then they wouldn't be in the run on team.

Interesting hearing the coach say that they are going to split the field and 6 will be 1st receiver and his expectations are the 7 will use his strength and run the ball and take on the line. That didn't happen against the Rabbits.

Talked about the Dogs linespeed and their left edge. Talked about the 6 man bench and carrying an outside back on that bench.

Expectation is the spine is going to have a good season plus Holmes in for a big year injuries barring.

Still building hoping top 8 but I got the feeling perhaps next season would be more realistic. Still looking to sign at least another 2 players and talked about KK leadership next season.

I expect a good showing in a close game.

 

[Morgan]

So now with the latest massive dose of deluded dribble from Flanno, again telling us not to believe our lying eyes vis-a-vis his boy, we can gain 2 things from it.

1. Flanno has gone back to his days as an U8s coach. That same level of professionalism. For Kyle it's all about effort. Talent, ability and RESULTS be damned.
2. He knows he's utterly deluded vis-a-vis Kyle. He admits he relies on Deano to tell him how well Kyle played. What he didn't need to say is if Deano tells the truth, he'd better start looking for a new job.

 

[Morgan]

You have to feel for him having every man and his dog having a go at his boy. Its tough I've coached my two boys and been accused of favouritism and nepotism. But the team knew if one of my boys weren't good enough then they wouldn't be in the run on team.

Accused of favouritism and nepotism? You don't think he's playing favourites due to 'extreme' nepotism?

He unwittingly admits it. See above.

 

[jodragon40]

So now with the latest massive dose of deluded dribble from Flanno, again telling us not to believe our lying eyes vis-a-vis his boy, we can gain 2 things from it.

1. Flanno has gone back to his days as an U8s coach. That same level of professionalism. For Kyle it's all about effort. Talent, ability and RESULTS be damned.
2. He know he's utterly deluded vis-a-vis Kyle. He admits he relies on Deano to tell him how well Kyle played. What he didn't need to say is if Deano tells the truth, he'd better start looking for a new job.

I don't necessarily agree with that. I acknowledge that his boy is not a starting 13 player. But in his defence who else can pull on that 6 jersey now.

As for Young personally I hope he never gets the 1sts coaching gig with us, its a giant step back in my view. Im told Ennis has had a bit to say and do during the off season so we will see what impact he has had on the squad.

In 3 days time we can see for ourselves

 

[jodragon40]

Accused of favouritism and nepotism? You don't think he's playing favourites due to 'extreme' nepotism?

He unwittingly admits it. See above.

I personally dont because of the actual depth in those positions. Now if he is playing poorly in the 1st half dozen games we look at LKT to replace him. Is that going to make us a stronger unit? Time will tell.

To me nepotism and we had plenty of it in the police force and I missed out on promotions a couple of times. Is when someone who has not got the same ability or credentials obtaining a position that overlooks a person who does have those qualities. As a result of a personal connection.

 

[Frank Facer]

It’s his spine mate. Why does he get so many excuses compared to every other coach?

He took the job that hardly anyone wanted. Numerous others were offered the job, but knocked it back. Hornby and Young were the only other 2 options. He took over one of if not the worst roster in the comp, after we had only made the semis once in the last 12 years and were finishing near last. We were favourites for the spoon the year he took over and last year and second favourites for the spoon this year. He didn't get his first choice recruits over the last 2 years either and has had to make do with what he could get. I didn't have any expectations and I don't know why anyone else would have any great expectations with the cattle he has had. He did blood many juniors last year and did sign Koloamatangi for next year. Hopefully Atkinson proves to be a good buy. If he had the cattle and still was unsuccessful, then he wouldn't have any "excuses".

 

[jodragon40]

He took the job that hardly anyone wanted. Numerous others were offered the job, but knocked it back. Hornby and Young were the only other 2 options. He took over one of if not the worst roster in the comp, after we had only made the semis once in the last 12 years and were finishing near last. We were favourites for the spoon the year he took over and last year and second favourites for the spoon this year. He didn't get his first choice recruits over the last 2 years either and has had to make do with what he could get. I didn't have any expectations and I don't know why anyone else would have any great expectations with the cattle he has had. He did blood many juniors last year and did sign Koloamatangi for next year. Hopefully Atkinson proves to be a good buy. If he had the cattle and still was unsuccessful, then he wouldn't have any "excuses".

Agree

 

[Frank Facer]

No excuses this year. First year he had excuses. Last year when the team went backwards, his excuses were less. Now he has no excuses. He is the one sticking with Kyle rather than working with the much more talented LKT or recruiting much more talented halves stuck behind guys like Cleary or Katoa or Walker or Munster and etc.

Name those much more talented halves stuck behind Cleary, Katoa, Munster or Walker who would have signed with us. I doubt Pezet would have signed with us, with Anasta as his manager. I think Parra would have rather signed Pezet long term, but Anasta did a one year deal with them and then got him a long term deal with Brisbane.

I am all for us signing top line halves who are better than Kyle, but they have to want to sign with us.

 

[Frank Facer]

Kyle will not deliver for us as either a 5/8th or half back. He isn't a player that can change the course of a game, nor can he manage a game and he lacks speed and true team work. His only advantage is that he puts a lot of effort into his defensive work and maybe he could be considered to play as a lock but I'm thinking more and more as the 14. This is what Tim Watsford mentioned ages ago and he should push hard for this to happen. That would enable players like LKT and Reed to be playing alongside Atkinson. In saying this, so far Atkinson has not shown a great deal of pizzaz and game management and running game which our halves must have for some much awaited success from this club we support.

Atkinson has only had about 50 minutes to show his pizzaz. I am skeptical if he is a game managing half. I think Kyle is filling in until Reed is ready.

Do you rate King Togia a long term first grader?

Do you remember the game against Nth Qld where Dearden scored 3 tries, which were all King Togia's fault?

 

[Frank Facer]

You could say Parra and Raiders were similar but improved through youth and speed and have moved forward very quickly. I guess we have all touched on having a great junior base and being able to retain them. If things don't go well in the first 6 rounds then Reed has to come in to reinvigorate the back line, it is to one dimensional.

Is our junior base really that good? Of late we have had the likes of Eagan, Toby and Ryan Couchman and Halangahu debut, but besides them, I am struggling to name any great juniors we have produced since Lomax.

I am hopeful of Reed being a good one.

I think Canberra over achieved last year. Lets see if they can make the top 8 again this year.

Last year Parra had Moses and Brown as their 2 halves to start the season with. When Moses was injured Parra struggled. When Brown signed with Newcastle, he didn't play much 5/8 for the rest of the year. Parra had a team that was good enough to make the Grand Final in 2022, while we finished near the bottom of the table that year and the year after.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Imagine picking a 20Yo half’s worst game and acting like he’s played like that every week

I don’t think LKT is generational but he’s worth persisting with

Let’s remember that Daniel Atkinson didn’t profile himself as a game managing half. He’s been a strong ball runner at 6 or a fullback for his entire career

There’s only 1 person that should shoulder blame for playing him there and not succeeding if that’s the case, while if he does go well than Shane deserves credit