Kyle Flanagan & the coach
- Thread starter Eric
- Start date
Exactly. Shane wasn't born yesterday.
Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
Flanno couldn't care about the team in the slightest. He only cares about what's good for Kyle.
No. He's not waiting for the bullet. You're reading this wrong. He is setting expectations low to buy himself time.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
We have been struggling to recruit for a very long time. Long before Flanno took over.
Mailroomsgi
SGI NSW Cup
It’s thinking like this from clubs like ours that put us in this position
Good clubs act fast and are ambitious, they don’t amble to a decision
Souths fucked around with Demetriou and kept him half a season longer than they should have and Manly/Cowboys are doing the same now
We won’t do it but success = acting faster and getting the cream of the crop HC options before anyone else
jodragon40
Staff
Absolutely agree
If that’s the case I hope Talau is with the first grade setup next year
jodragon40
Staff
Mug Fan has already indicated that he was part of the set-up I believe if memory serves me right
Dragons Chris
SGI NSW Cup
Serious clubs which demand success give under performing coaches and players weeks to fix it. We give them seasons to fix it.
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
The loyalty Dragons coaches have among a vocal minority is extraordinary.
He's done. CEO needs to move on him ASAP. Like yesterday. I'm not going to pile on Kyle but the way Flanno drops Sele for example after one bad game but picks Kyle week after week, season after season is really something. It must be an NRL first.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
I suppose with the poor start we have had in 2026 and the way that things ended in 2025 that the Dragon's Board members have to be giving a certain amount of consideration on Flanno's tenure at the club, that is see you later? But maybe not! They know that they had a very hard time signing a coach to take over from Hook. Several turned us down like Ryles, possibly Hasler and there was no-one keen to sign Flanno at the time except suckers us. In saying this the hard decision that a prospective head coach would have had to think about before applying to be that head coach is - "do I want to work in the Wollongong/Kogarah environment? Would I get on with the Board? Would the Board give me plenty of leeway into putting my own systems in place? Will they allow me to get the players that I need even though they could be costly? blah, blah, blah!!"
Unless the Board can clearly and unequivocally say that if they sack Flanagan that they will be able to get a coach that will bring us years of success, then the termination of Flanno won't happen.
As Flanno has said, the players we currently have are not ones who will win us a competition. "We don't have the cattle". In saying this, Flanno could have already lowered the self esteem of the players to a point that they now think that the coach doesn't think much of them - keeping Kyle in the team every week because Flanno says that he is doing a good job doesn't help as well. Flanno needs to be players friendly not player friendly and give them encouragement all of the time. I know that we don't have the cattle and every one of us on this Forum, well most, would be of the same opinion, but better man management goes a long way in getting positive player response and attitude.
Bellamy coached players improve mostly under his care and in most cases, not all, if the players move to another club they don't play as well - because of coaching and system standards being lower than his. Conversely, we have seen a number of players who have left the Dragons as average ones and shine at their new clubs because, you guessed it, better standards of coaching and systems are in place.
There are many factors that are affecting our results. The coach might be one or he may not. But somebody who is somebody needs to do a very deep investigation into what the club actually needs to have yearly success rates. I guess that person would be Tim Watsford, the CEO? We needed years ago to have a guy like Gus Gould work as the General Manager of Football. I think that the club would have well and truly had some years of successful results, like a premiership win in the past 5 or so years and a continuation into last year, this year and the years ahead because once success is with a club there is no denying that success will continue.
It is no use me thinking of us getting Gus Gould to come over to the Dragons after his General Manager of Football role at the Bulldogs ends because he signed a long term deal in Sept 2025 to stay there until the end of 2031, same as Cam Ciraldo. So who is there? We just continue on with Ben Haran?
GCRV
SGI NSW Cup
I believe Ryles was the only one who turned the Dragons down and even that was only because he was making demands the club wasn't willing to accept. He has his own issues at Parra. Parra won but you'd have to be crazy to be happy with the way they played if you were a Parra fan.I suppose with the poor start we have had in 2026 and the way that things ended in 2025 that the Dragon's Board members have to be giving a certain amount of consideration on Flanno's tenure at the club, that is see you later? But maybe not! They know that they had a very hard time signing a coach to take over from Hook. Several turned us down like Ryles, possibly Hasler and there was no-one keen to sign Flanno at the time except suckers us. In saying this the hard decision that a prospective head coach would have had to think about before applying to be that head coach is - "do I want to work in the Wollongong/Kogarah environment? Would I get on with the Board? Would the Board give me plenty of leeway into putting my own systems in place? Will they allow me to get the players that I need even though they could be costly? blah, blah, blah!!"
Unless the Board can clearly and unequivocally say that if they sack Flanagan that they will be able to get a coach that will bring us years of success, then the termination of Flanno won't happen.
As Flanno has said, the players we currently have are not ones who will win us a competition. "We don't have the cattle". In saying this, Flanno could have already lowered the self esteem of the players to a point that they now think that the coach doesn't think much of them - keeping Kyle in the team every week because Flanno says that he is doing a good job doesn't help as well. Flanno needs to be players friendly not player friendly and give them encouragement all of the time. I know that we don't have the cattle and every one of us on this Forum, well most, would be of the same opinion, but better man management goes a long way in getting positive player response and attitude.
Bellamy coached players improve mostly under his care and in most cases, not all, if the players move to another club they don't play as well - because of coaching and system standards being lower than his. Conversely, we have seen a number of players who have left the Dragons as average ones and shine at their new clubs because, you guessed it, better standards of coaching and systems are in place.
There are many factors that are affecting our results. The coach might be one or he may not. But somebody who is somebody needs to do a very deep investigation into what the club actually needs to have yearly success rates. I guess that person would be Tim Watsford, the CEO? We needed years ago to have a guy like Gus Gould work as the General Manager of Football. I think that the club would have well and truly had some years of successful results, like a premiership win in the past 5 or so years and a continuation into last year, this year and the years ahead because once success is with a club there is no denying that success will continue.
It is no use me thinking of us getting Gus Gould to come over to the Dragons after his General Manager of Football role at the Bulldogs ends because he signed a long term deal in Sept 2025 to stay there until the end of 2031, same as Cam Ciraldo. So who is there? We just continue on with Ben Haran?
I'm sure there would be any number of qualified applicants if Flanno were sacked today. Personally I'd agree with a lot of others. Get one of the assistants from Penrith or Melbourne as long as he has no previous history with the Dragons. Need an outsider and someone who understands how to win in the modern game.
Brad Arthur would also be ok for 2 years of possible or 3 years as long as signing his son is absolutely, unequivocally off the table at any stage of his time as head coach. I believe he already said he doesn't want deal with the conflict of interest by coaching his own son. If only Flanno was that professional. If only our board and CEO was that professional so as to not put up with this sick joke.
RufusRex
SGI Jersey Flegg
I know that NRL fantasy points are not a reflection on a player ... but sometimes it does tell a funny story ...
Kyle has 85 points, 63 come from tackles made.
For some reason that makes me laugh ....
Kyle has 85 points, 63 come from tackles made.
For some reason that makes me laugh ....
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
I don't rate Sele. I have trouble remembering him having any good games.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
When we signed Flanno, the only 2 "applicants" were Dean Young and Ben Hornby. As you said Ryles knocked us back and we also approached Billy Slater to coach us and he didn't even want to talk to us.
We also were said to approach Ciraldo before he took over at Canterbury and he knocked us back.
Before Griffen took over, if my memory serves me correctly, the only "applicants" for the job were Young, Hornby, Griffin and David Furner. We approached Fitzgibbon and he knocked us back. I am only putting things into perspective.
Our last 3 coaches have not got another first grade coaching job after coaching us and Flanno may be number 4. It looks like coaching us, has been coaching career suicide. I can't name another club who's last 3 coaches never got another job after coaching them, besides Canberra who have had Ricky Stuart there for a long time since he took over.
As I said, if we could manage to sign Cleary or Webster, which I think the chances would be very slim, they would be worth the wait. Any other coaches would be gambles and would they even want the job? By next year, hopefully we will be showing improvement and look like a more attractive proposition for prospective coaches.
Dean Young also looks to be positioned to be our next coach. I doubt many or even anyone really wants that.
Dragon David
SGI Jersey Flegg
Your memory is much better than mine Frank. That was a grim recollection of days gone past. In fact it was just terrible to think that we could not get anyone decent to coach us and we lived through it all. The pain and suffering continues though.
Something has to happen to turn every damn thing around to ensure we can compete against the rest with achieving better results on a consistent basis to be in the top 4-8 positions on the ladder yearly.
I know Flanno cannot perform miracles but he doesn't need them if he is able to get a better half back to play alongside Atkinson and better and faster outside backs and a new whiz bang full back. Better cattle is what he needs.
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RedV01
SGI NSW Cup
That is utter BS. Ryles was first choice and Flanno was second. If the club was accepting applicants, there would've been many. Personally I'd prefer Ryles to Flanagan but that is a VERY low bar. Hell, I'd prefer Hook Griffin to Flanagan. But I don't rate any of them.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
If I was Flanno and coaching for my career, I would be promoting Reed right now, but Flanno wants to wait until next year or later this year before picking him. Many others also think Reed should spend a year in NSW Cup.
Frank Facer
SGI Jersey Flegg
It isn't BS at all. We are the only club I know of who advertises for "applicants". When McGreggor was sacked the only ones I can remember applying were Furner, Griffen, Young and Hornby. Then when Griffin was sacked the only ones who applied were Young and Hornby. Flanno said, if they want me, they can approach me. Ryles didn't apply either, he was approached and the same applies to Billy Slater. Slater was actually our first choice, but he didn't even want to meet with us and politely declined.
If you were an aspiring first grade coach, would you have applied to take the job when McGreggor or Griffin got sacked? I wouldn't have.