Shane Flanagan set to be removed as St George Illawarra Dragons coach after a disastrous 11-game losing streak
Losing run spans end of 2025 into a winless start to the 2026 season (FOX SPORTS)
Club decision described as effectively unavoidable amid poor results and mounting pressure (News.com.au)
Dragons sitting last on the ladder with the worst attacking output in the competition (News.com.au)
Flanagan only recently signed a contract extension, making the move a sharp reversal (News.com.au)
Senior football figure Ben Haran also expected to depart as part of broader shake-up (News.com.au)
Playing group reportedly unaware of the decision prior to training
Heavy recent losses (Rabbitohs, Manly, Cowboys) accelerated the decision (News.com.au)
Internal issues: roster concerns, loss of key players, and lack of on-field leadership (News.com.au)
Interim coaching options include club figures like Dean Young, with longer-term candidates such as Ben Hornby in the mix (News.com.au)
Club now focused on stabilising performance and beginning a rebuild
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The club took a backwards step when they invested in older players looking for short term results.
This decisions has put the club back a few years to where they are now, they would be in a lot better position if they made the right decisions a few years back, all they have done is delay the inevitable.
I believe the thinking was the older players would set standrads and bring about a cultural shift. Standards and culture are great but if the older players are not performing then it's a disaster.
Yes been a disaster mate, Valentine Holmes is on $1million a season, truly staggering.
Gutherson on $800k a season is even way too much, I doubt there was much interest apart from the Dragons when he signed.
I don't mind Cook on $600k, would be a very handy bench hooker at 34yrs of age.
The intentions were fine in getting the likes of Gutho, Cook and Holmes for experience. Issue is how many of them they got. Cook turned into a mistake with Liddle coming out of nowhere to be better but Flanno consistently went with Cook then wanted to extend him. I mean yeah you signed Cook wanting a Hooker and Liddle becoming better just happened so fair. But to double down and try to keep Cook instead of using Liddle as full-time Hooker was dumb.
Gutho was an ok idea but in a team with limited speed on the edges he stood out further.
The rule changes killed Flanno's career with his lack of speed especially in the spine. He seems a bit like BA and believes that an effort based game is enough to win games. It may have worked in the past but the skill level of young kids coming through is phenomenal as is the fitness and agility after developing from early ages with help of sports science now given to younger and younger players.
Val holmes has the biggest question mark though. Has he given up or dramatically declined as a player. Holmes was probably Flanno's best signing. Those who weren't Parra fans probably said Gutho was the best signing but we knew his lack of speed was a problem as the game changed.
I wonder if new coach will get rid of Holmes and if he is worth a shot on heavily reduced contract with Saints carrying some value for 2 years. The new coach should be looking at what Ryles did with a massive clean out.
Interesting that the Head of Football also got the chop. But what about the people who hired both of them?
They didn't throw full responsibility for the failures on the coach. The head of football also axed.
For mine both the fg roster and reserve grade were in a worse position than the dragons who are top 4 reserve grade, yet we retained our hof and blamed ba for the problem .
Im really hoping O'neill has at least 2- 4 more good signings for 27. Tago, Xerri, Averillo,
Unfortunately flannos coaching style hasn't kept up with the speed of the game. Was noticeable last year but the 6 agains made it expenentially worse
Darn, I was hoping they'd keep him around for a bit longer to make sure the Dragons are absolutely locked in for the spoon.
They're going to be paying a few players to play elsewhere over the next few years if they want to transform their squad. Not a fun situation for the next coach up.
Not surprising the current situation had to end somehow.
I have all the respect in the world for Gutho but he made a mistake leaving Parra. The club was senisble not trying to match the Dragons.
At the time I felt certain that the Cook, Gutho and Holmes signings were a big strategic mistake. It was hard to see how they would change the team in regards to developing a winning brand or style of football. For mine it was an early indicator that the game may have passed flanno by.
I guess for us, there may be an opportunity for Sua to leave and play out the back half of the Season with the Eels.
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