Crawley Files: Trent Barrett’s coaching incompetence exposed by Kyle Flanagan treatment
Trent Barrett needs to be held accountable for his disgraceful treatment of his young playmakers, which borders on coaching incompetence, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
Paul Crawley
Paul Crawley
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3 min read
April 6, 2022 - 12:00PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Trent Barrett’s decision to recall Kyle Flanagan borders on coaching incompetence.
It is Barrett’s job to know the strengths and weaknesses of every player and then make judgment on who he rates the best in each position to give the team the best chance of winning football games.
Barrett had all summer and all pre-season to make a call on whether it should be Jake Averillo, Brandon Wakeham or Flanagan wearing the No.7 jumper this season.
Yet here we are five rounds in and Barrett is now on his third halfback.
Kyle Flanagan has been recalled to the Bulldogs first grade team for the first time since August. Picture: Richard Dobson
Kyle Flanagan has been recalled to the Bulldogs first grade team for the first time since August. Picture: Richard Dobson
It is not only disgraceful treatment of Flanagan sending him to take on the unbeaten premiers Penrith in his NRL return, but equally poor treatment of Averillo and Wakeham who each got only two weeks to prove their worth before they were dumped.
But if things go pear-shaped again on Sunday it should be the coach who is the next to be made accountable.
Club members and fans are entitled to answers from the board and administration as to what direction Barrett is taking this team.
It also needs to be made clear what if any input Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould had on the selections.
For all his critics Gould is rightly regarded as one of the smartest football brains in the game.
Yet he has watched over this debacle without putting a stop to it.
Anyone with any clue about the game knows how vitally important it is to have stability in the spine.
It is the common denominator with all the best teams.
Trent Barrett has chopped and changed the Bulldogs halves all season – and we’re only five rounds in. Picture: NRL Imagery
Trent Barrett has chopped and changed the Bulldogs halves all season – and we’re only five rounds in. Picture: NRL Imagery
Combinations and confidence are built over time and come through knowing the ins and outs of how each other plays.
Yet Barrett is now using his third halfback in a spine that also includes a new five-eighth in Matt Burton and a new fullback in Matt Dufty.
It certainly won’t help Flanagan’s confidence knowing the Panthers have pinned a target on him previously with Jarome Luai in particular taking great delight in humiliating Flanagan.
Without giving any credibility to the conspiracy theory doing the rounds that this is the Bulldogs’ latest attempt to put Flanagan in a position where he is left with no option but to walk away from the remainder of his contract to free up salary cap space, Barrett is off his rocker if he thinks this is how you get the best out of any young players who have clearly been struggling with confidence.
In Flanagan’s case he did not get a single minute playing in the halves beside Burton during the trials.
Flanagan was in and out of first grade in 2021 under Barrett. Picture: Alix Sweeney
Former Bulldogs premiership winning five-eighth Braith Anasta was shaking his head when he learned of Flanagan’s call up shortly before NRL 360 went to air on Tuesday night.
Anasta clearly did not want to bag his old club but could barely hide his disbelief.
He made it clear that he had said publicly throughout the pre-season that he always thought Flanagan was the Bulldogs’ best choice to wear the No 7 jumper this year ahead of Averillo because of Flanagan’s ability to manage a game.
But he said to throw him in now after having no chance to work on combinations over the summer or during the trials was basically just setting Flanagan up to fail.
“I feel sorry for him,” Anasta said.
“He has been hammered pillar to post. His confidence has been battered. They didn’t give him a second, let alone a minute with Burton in the trials.
“They get to round five and they play the premiership heavyweights, the best team in the competition right now by a long way, and they go ‘here you, buddy’.”
Asked directly if he thought there was any chance Flanagan could in one week fast track this partnership and make it a success against the comp’s best team, Anasta added: “I’d love to say yes but you know what my thoughts are, no.”
That’s coming from a man who won a comp with the Bulldogs wearing the No 6 jumper, and to this day is paid to watch every single game and give his expert analysis on it.
The club can spin Flanagan’s selection any way they want to try and make this out to be a media beat up.
But there is just no way of justifying why Barrett has now used three halfbacks in five weeks.
It borders on coaching incompetence.
Replies
I don't understand how a player in the top 30 can't have trained with the top squad. Barrett is on borrowed time.
Deliberate attempt to frustrate the kid and get him to leave, the dogs cap is a huge mess Thompson 800k, Allan 500k ,JAC 550 , Flano 500 , Jackson 670, TPJ 700, Gus is no chance of moving these players on and all are huge drag on the salary cap. Gus won't solve the issue but will definitely throw Barrett under the bus sooner rather than later.
Shhhh Mick, you cannot say how much they are on or the Kennel will bark you down that you are wrong, you should know Flanagan is only on 350k and Jackson is getting 200k off the cap due to long service and Allan is only on 450k.
How dare you speak facts Mick.
Lol LB I love visiting the kennel they are constantly in meltdown
I had a shit day at work on Monday, so i went to the Kennel when i got home, my word it cheers you up massively.
Unfortunately i have experienced myself showing signs of getting dumber and dumber each time i go there.
Lol short sharp visits are recommend
After Kennel exposure it is best to avoid both kebabs and yumcha.
Mick so is this site. 😂
Lol Keet
Professional footballer named to play in professional competition. This is a nothing burger. It's up to Flanagan he deserves the number 7. Paul Crawley is a gutter journalist.
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