The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Corey Parker on Dragons coach sacking – Tonight on The Agenda Setters: Rugby League Corey Parker (CP), David Riccio (DR), Aaron Woods (AW) and Luke Keary (LK) discuss the biggest topics of Rugby League, including;
- Shane Flanagan and Ben Haran’s departures from the Dragons
- Dean Young’s new role as Dragons interim head coach
- Luke Keary benches Kyle Flanagan in new Dragons squad mock up
Corey Parker and Luke Keary on Shane Flanagan and Ben Haran’s departures from the Dragons – “It’s been a shambles the way it has all been handled”
CP: 9.45am this morning there was a press conference from Andrew Lancaster and co. The St George Illawarra Dragons have parted ways with Shane Flanagan.
DR: Not only Shane Flanagan, but also Ben Haran shown the door by St George Illawarra. The Dragons are saying it is by mutual agreement. It was announced at a press conference, best explained as a strange conference, as at 9.45am, Dragons fans were given no real clarity on where the club stood as a replacement, and a way forward. It was quite a surprise, that they didn’t have a plan at that point in time.
AW: It was doing the rounds on Sunday afternoon, that Shane Flanagan was told he would be departing ways with the club. The players don’t find out til this morning. The communication feels like it missed a few things here.
DR: How the Dragons didn’t have a ready-made plan for these players. Training has been cancelled for tomorrow, in order to get the house in order. At 6.15pm tonight, finally, finally we get a press release that Dean Young will step into the interim coaching role.
CP: It’s been a shambles the way it has all been handled. At 9.45am when you tuned in, you understood the rumours had come to light and Shane had mutually agreed to move on. If you are a Dragons fan, player or member, you would have thought you would have some clarity on who that coach may be. This has been in the works for a while – this is his (Shane’s) third year at the club. He’s lost 11 games straight, with a win rate of 34.6%. The writing was on the wall. The lack of leadership this morning was appalling.
LK: This day is not about Shane Flanagan. This is laughable.. I know I’m new to this, so is this normal?
DR: No.
LK: This is the most shambolic thing I have ever seen.
DR: In weeks past, I have suggested that this is not a united club. The division from the Illawarra side of the business and the St George side of the business has taken an entire day to realise that Dean Young is their interim coach.
For them to move forward as a football club, they a united front, and this press conference was anything by united.
Dean Young will step into Dragons interim coaching role.
AW: Dean Young, congratulations, you’re the interim head coach. But he’s been there for the past few years under Shane Flanaga, and also under Paul McGregor. What is going to change with him in charge. Is he going to bring other players? How are fans meant to get excited?
DR: He’s done his time. He had an ambition to be a head coach for a long time. He furthered his training up at the Cowboys, and he’s got Red V DNA in him.
AW: What happens to Mick Ennis now? They’ve had a whole day to come to terms with Dean Young is the new interim coach. Does he stay?
CP: Mick Ennis too up the role to be under the tutorage from Shane Flanagan and Shane is now gone. Is this an opportunity for Dean Young to be the head coach moving forward, or is it just appeasing the fans to silence the noise for a little while.Here are some of the coaching candidates; Dean Young, Michael Ennis, ben Hornby, Willie Talau, Brad Arthur and Matt King.
Dean having been at the Dragons, is he part of the problem? Or is he part of the solution.
Luke Keary mocks up new Dragons squad ahead of Anzac day clash, benching Kyle Flanagan.
LK: “They’ve got a massive game this week – it’s the biggest day on the club calendar. Dean Young has to pick a team, so I’ve given it a crack. The next 12 months for the Dragons, everything has to be geared towards the young guys, and turning them into NRL players. Kade Reed has to come in. Loko Pasifiki Tonga was their best forward on the weekend. Couchman and Stewart and Halangahu have to come in there somewhere. Kyle has to go back to number 14. Dylan Egan will hopefully be back this week. Everything has to be geared towards the kids, the fans want to see them.
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The Agenda Setters Rugby League on Channel 7 Corey Parker on Dragons coach sacking
