Debate has raged over Shane Flanagan’s decision to publicly back his son and Dragons halfback Kyle Flanagan amid the club’s form slump.
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The Dragons have won just two of their last six games and blew an 18-6 half-time lead to go down 30-18 against the Sharks in Round 15, with Flanagan producing a poor kicking display.
Flanagan staunchly defended his son, saying he has been one of the best players for the club this season, but the Dragons sit 12th and are just one loss outside the bottom four.
The approach prompted a stunned response from Daily Telegraph reporter Brent Read on NRL 360 on Monday night.
“I don’t know why you would come out and do what Flanno did?” Read said.
“Why would you come out and do this? Because all it is going to do is put pressure on his son again.”
Fox League’s James Hooper said Flanagan was doing nothing out of the ordinary.
“Any coach would. Take the fact that it is his son out of it,” Hooper said.
“He’s backed him religiously all year, why come out again?” Read replied.
“You don’t need to do it.”
“He is pushing his chips all in I’d say,” Hooper responded.
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“I’d say he is on the fence, but because the noise is getting louder he is having to defend the decision,” Anasta interjected.
Focus then shifted to axed Dragons half Lachlan Illias who has performed well in NSW Cup having been dropped six weeks ago.
“What I don’t get is six weeks ago Flanno dropped Lachlan Ilias. He said publicly, he is a first grade halfback, go back to NSW Cup, get your confidence back and show what you can do, you will be back in first grade eventually,” Read said.
“They have won six in a row since he has gone back to reserve grade. The first grade team in his absence have won two of six. When he was there he won three of seven, so they have got worse.
“And it’s not just him, Jonah Glover the other half there has been outstanding as well.
“If you are going to put blokes in reserve grade and you basically shut the door on them coming back into first grade, why have a reserve grade team?”
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Hooper said he felt for Flanagan but the reality was he would struggle to earn a starting spot at another NRL club.
“It is tough on Kyle because it didn’t work at the Roosters and that was a tough period for him, it didn’t work at the Bulldogs and there was a period where he wasn’t picked in the NRL for a long while,” he said.
“Then Gus had to step in and try to take control of the situation. I feel for him. I think he has got talent, but at that super elite level, it remains to be seen whether he is going to get it done.”
“If you go through every team in the NRL, with respect to Kyle, he probably doesn’t get a start at any other club, so it is a big call for Flanno because if the losses continue to mount then it is Flanno’s role and his job that is going to be on the chopping block.”
