Round 9: St. George Illawarra v Wests Tigers

[RedVHeartbeat]

Not only was Flanagan re-signed while Ben Hunt was released, now he is the most experienced playmaker in the team and needs to show more with his creativity.

Kyle Flanagan will never be our game manager as he has sufficient trouble already managing his own game. This guy has little skill, no vision, no kicking game, he is a trier, nothing else so I can now see why so many clubs jettisoned him. To save him any further embarrassment his old man must have vowed to never drop him again. One of the biggest mistakes our BOD made was to bring a player here whose father coached the same club.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I think he'll play 7 and get the blame for a bad team performance. Next step is Gutho halfback.

The kid has been thrown to the lions. If he steps up over the next month or so, he will be a long termer for us, but if he does not there will be the usual media vultures sending him packing like they have done with Ilias.

 

[GCRV]

The kid has been thrown to the lions. If he steps up over the next month or so, he will be a long termer for us, but if he does not there will be the usual media vultures sending him packing like they have done with Ilias.

He hasn't even been doing most of the kicking in reserve grade. Anyway, he has some speed and footwork, can break a tackle and passes better than Ilias and Kyle. But I think we won't see the best of him until he is partnered in the halves with a good, game managing halfback.

 

[Dragons Chris]

Kyle Flanagan will never be our game manager as he has sufficient trouble already managing his own game. This guy has little skill, no vision, no kicking game, he is a trier, nothing else so I can now see why so many clubs jettisoned him. To save him any further embarrassment his old man must have vowed to never drop him again. One of the biggest mistakes our BOD made was to bring a player here whose father coached the same club.

The fact he is still in first grade shows Flanno's power. I think Flanno saw what Kevin Walters was able to do with his son at the Broncos and thought he could do something similar. He might have been if Kyle was playing hooker, where Flanno said he was recruited to play. Billy Walters is far from a superstar hooker but he's much better there than in the halves.

Anyway, everyone is expecting Flanno to step up and be the senior playmaker. Flanno snr can no longer hide him from much more scrutiny. Now Kyle has a chance to prove us wrong by owning the playmaking and game management, allowing LKT to pick and choose his moments. Best thing about LKTs game right now isn't his running but the way he doesn't telegraph what he is going to do. They don't know if he is going to kick, run or pass until he does it. Something we can't say for Kyle and Ilias.

 

[Morgan]

I would be extremely surprised if Benji didn't have a contingency plans for Flanagan playing 7 or being the actual game manager

They'll be playing one on either side but one of them, probably LKT will be doing the kicking and telling Cook to pass it to forwards or to halves.

 

[Justadragon]

Dragons’ burning question: ​

Does axing Ilias heap even more pressure on Kyle Flanagan?

The call to drop Lachlan Ilias in favour of Lyhkan King-Togia in the halves will only intensify the pressure on Kyle Flanagan as the senior playmaker for the Dragons. Not only was Flanagan re-signed while Ben Hunt was released, now he is the most experienced playmaker in the team and needs to show more with his creativity.

Flanagan has been solid this season, but his strengths are his defence and running game, but he will need to create more try assists for his teammates and take over the kicking game from Ilias.

The Dragons sit 10th heading into Magic Round and the Tigers is a game they need to win if they are a hope of playing finals this season.

---

Kyle's strength is his running game? I think that says it all. But now the pressure is well and truly on. He has to pay back the faith his old man has put in him.

You are right Chris, KF tends to go into his shell when things start to go pear shaped. If he cant manage a game when we are 10-12 points in front, how the hell is he going to dig us out of a hole. I seriously cannot remember the last time we came back to win a game when we were 10 + points down. There may have been but by jesus few and far between.

 

[Justadragon]

Kyle Flanagan will never be our game manager as he has sufficient trouble already managing his own game. This guy has little skill, no vision, no kicking game, he is a trier, nothing else so I can now see why so many clubs jettisoned him. To save him any further embarrassment his old man must have vowed to never drop him again. One of the biggest mistakes our BOD made was to bring a player here whose father coached the same club.

I think this season will be KF's last in the halves, the heat will be on very soon and his old man will get him out of there.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

I think we’ll see whichever Backrower lines up next to LKT on the left have a strong game.

the kid uses his backrowers so well and it keeps the edge defence in 2 minds with his constant short balls to the backrower instead of out to the fullback in shape

Fingers crossed for a breakout game for Lyhkan

 

[Eric]

You are right Chris, KF tends to go into his shell when things start to go pear shaped. If he cant manage a game when we are 10-12 points in front, how the hell is he going to dig us out of a hole. I seriously cannot remember the last time we came back to win a game when we were 10 + points down. There may have been but by jesus few and far between.

x2

As for Kyle, like every other average half, he is hopeless without forwards laying a good platform. I recall 2 games early on last year when he played well. Against Gold Coast and Wests Tigers. In those games Dragons forwards were dominating.

 

[jodragon40]

I personally don't like the Dragons official photograph of young LKT with that left knee so heavily taped up. Any information on this? I understand it's a preventative measure but I never like to see that.

 

[Justadragon]

I dont know, when we go into Rd 9 with a new halves pairing and not through injury, what is that saying about us. It seems to me we have been unsettled for many years, I really wish the kid well, lets hope all the boys can have a decent crack at this. If we get rissolled, there will certainly be a lot of questions and a whole heap of pressure. Lets hope flanno knows what he is doing.

 

[Justadragon]

I personally don't like the Dragons official photograph of young LKT with that left knee so heavily taped up. Any information on this? I understand it's a preventative measure but I never like to see that.

Yep agree, I dont know if you have noticed the amount of strapping on T Couchmans knee, that always worries the hell out of me. He's virtually had it on since Rd 1.

 

[Edward]

I dont know, when we go into Rd 9 with a new halves pairing and not through injury, what is that saying about us. It seems to me we have been unsettled for many years, I really wish the kid well, lets hope all the boys can have a decent crack at this. If we get rissolled, there will certainly be a lot of questions and a whole heap of pressure. Lets hope flanno knows what he is doing.

It's disappointing. If Kyle has a bad game, his dad is going to get massive criticism.

 

[Justadragon]

Yeah agree Ed, but at some stage you have accept the fact that KF was not brought to the club to play 6, he was a 14. We desperately need managing halves and KF is not.

 

[Mug Fan]

I personally don't like the Dragons official photograph of young LKT with that left knee so heavily taped up. Any information on this? I understand it's a preventative measure but I never like to see that.

He's had it strapped since his MCL injury in Feb.
Nothing you can do about it half the team has strapping and need pain killers to play.

 

[jodragon40]

He's had it strapped since his MCL injury in Feb.
Nothing you can do about it half the team has strapping and need pain killers to play.

Ah the pain of playing RL for a living. Cheers

 

[jodragon40]

It's disappointing. If Kyle has a bad game, his dad is going to get massive criticism.

He is now

 

[RedVictory]

Starford Toa ruled out for Tigers. Seen him give Val a bath throughout his career.

 

[Dragons Chris]

It's disappointing. If Kyle has a bad game, his dad is going to get massive criticism.

I stated a while ago, Flanno might have decided he'd rather get sacked than drop Kyle.

Anyway, I'm glad he is finally doing something rather than just changing wingers or bench front rowers. Kyle has a chance to make all who doubt him eat humble pie. But he's got to do it consistently, not in one game and then be safe for the rest of the season.

 

[Dave03]

This should be Guler's final chance, if he can't get close to 100m or show some attacking skills like offloads etc then he should be dropped. Interested to see how our right side operates with Kyle on the right, I hope it's better defensively. Excited & nervous for this game, unsure which Dragons side shows up.