The Dragons’ decision to give coach Shane Flanagan a two-year extension in August last year has been put under the microscope given the club’s horror stretch since the deal was signed.
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Following a win against Canberra in Round 22, 2025, Flanagan was re-upped for two years, giving him security until the end of 2028.
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The Dragons would win their next game against arch rivals Cronulla before finishing the season with a whimper, losing four straight.
As they’ve dropped their first four to start this year, the Red V have lost eight of nine games since Flanagan was offered and signed said contract extension.
“He’s under pressure. You can’t keep losing games and not being under pressure. Any coach that starts a season like this and continues like this, he is under pressure,” journalist Dave Riccio said on NRL360.
The contract call is a decision that could haunt the club, according to foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley, who believes the Dragons deserves blame for their timing around the new deal.
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“The Dragons have now lost it’s last eight games and even when you go through the timeline of Flanno getting his contract extension of August last year, they’ve actually lost 12 of their last 14 games,” Crawley said on NRL360.
“Leading up to Flanno getting his contract extension, the Dragons lost four in a row before beating the Raiders and coincidentally, as luck would have it, he signed a deal that week. It was almost as if they were waiting for this opportunity.
“They won against Cronulla the next week but since they haven’t won. Eight straight losses.
“The season earlier, they finished 15th and when they finished with those four losses, you would’ve said, we’re going to have to hold out until next year.
“Surely August wasn’t the time (to re-sign him) after that run in leading into the Canberra game. It makes no sense at all. You talk about what has happened at Manly, well the Dragons bosses they need a wrap over the knuckles too.
“Leading up to that re-signing, in no way in the world were they doing enough to give a coach a contract extension … I don’t see how that club has taken a turn for the better since.”
NRL360 host Braith Anasta agreed with Crawley’s assessment, wondering why the Dragons re-signed Flanagan.
“I remember when it happened, I was like, why? They have no one knocking on the door for Shane Flanagan. They weren’t playing out of their skin,” Anasta said.
“They (Dragons) made the decision. They need to lie in their own you-know-what.”
St. George have had one of the worst winning strike rates in the NRL since Flanagan took over in 2024.
Granted, he didn’t inherit the most talented club on paper. While there are several green shoots evident, at the moment, there are growing pains.
Crawley didn’t want to turn to excuses though. He believes the Dragons had enough proof in front of them to hold off on tabling a deal when they did.
He also pointed to the club’s statement at the time, believing it didn’t ring true back then, nor does it now.
“Shane has played a critical role in setting the foundation for where this club is heading,” said Dragons CEO Tim Watsford,” the club-issued statement read after Flanagan inked the extension.
“He’s re-instilled belief in our playing group, coaches and supporters together with reiterating the privilege of wearing the Red V.”
“No one in their right mind would agree with what was said last August,” Crawley said.
“That statement hasn’t aged well.”
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