St George Illawarra skipper Clint Gutherson has taken aim at critics of both Dragons playmakers Kyle Flanagan and Canterbury young gun Lachie Galvin – branding the continued scrutiny of both as “unfair”.
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Gutherson has also backed a decision by the Dragons coaching staff to fly into Las Vegas last of all four competing NRL teams, and two days after Sunday’s rival Canterbury, saying: “We didn’t want it feeling like a holiday”.
Elsewhere, the ‘King’ also talked about readying for those famed bombs of Matt Burton, and the impact assistant Mick Ennis is having on the new partnership that is Flanagan and incoming No.7, Daniel Atkinson.
While standing on opposite sides of Allegiant Stadium this Saturday night in Las Vegas, both Flanagan and Galvin are already no stranger to the heat that comes with being an NRL playmaker.
As recently as November, the son of Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was still defending himself against criticism and accusations of nepotism around his selection, telling Josh Mansour on his Unscripted podcast “it’s definitely hard at times”.
Flanagan also described the criticism of NRL players as like “a game to some people”, while his father this week also addressed the issue at length in a revealing interview with Fox League’s Matthew Johns.
And now on the eve of the 2026 NRL season opener, Gutherson has given his own take on the issue, stressing Flanagan is one of the Dragons’ most consistent players while Galvin sits among the code’s most exciting young talents.
Asked if the scrutiny around Kyle was unfair, Gutho replied: “It’s always unfair.
“But that’s the way it is. The way the media goes.
“We saw what Kyle did for us last year.
“He was great, one of our most consistent.
“He played every minute of every game, and if you’re doing that in the NRL you’ve obviously got something.
“There is always criticism on the halves, but we back them.”
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Elsewhere, Gutherson also heaped praise on the Bulldogs’ Galvin, who came under fire himself after switching to Belmore from Wests Tigers midway through last year, and remains one of the biggest storylines as the NRL prepares to again launch its season in the world’s entertainment capital.
“He’s one of the great young halves in the game,” Gutherson said of Galvin.
“But seven and six, they always get sprayed.
“Doesn’t matter who you’re playing for, how good you’re playing, whatever, you’re always going to cop criticism
“And that’s just not us, or just the Bulldogs.
“Galvin is great.
“He’s one of the most exciting players I’ve watched in a long time.
“Just the way he goes about his footy.
“There are a lot of systems now in rugby league but he’s one of the halves that just plays and it’s exciting to see.”
Elsewhere, Gutho said he was also ready for Burton’s famed bombing raids this weekend.
“Over there years, he’s always chucked a few up for me,” the fullback grinned.
“But that’s a perk of playing league.
“At fullback you get to challenge yourself against the game’s best halves and their kicking games.
“And that’s one thing I pride myself on.”
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And as for the club’s decision to be the last team onto the ground in Las Vegas?
“That’s the best prep for us,” he said. “We know what team we’ve got and the best prep was getting here on Saturday and getting into things from then.
“We didn’t want to be here too many extra days, make it start feeling like a holiday or whatever.
“This is their reasoning and we’ve bought into that.
“We’ve had two training days and then yesterday off, and now today is our main one for prepping and being ready for Saturday.
“We’re doing everything right.”
But as for suggesting the Bulldogs have spent too long in town?
“Wouldn’t have a clue,” he said. “Their performance staff thought that was right for them, and our performance staff think this is right for us.”
Gutherson also said Canterbury deserved to be favourites for the season opener, continuing: “They’ve got all the right to be spoken about.
“The last few years they’ve been one of the best teams, if not the best team.
“They’ve got all the promise.
“All the talk.
“But we’ve just got to worry about us.
“We know the team we can be so it’s just about doing that.”
While not a UFC fan, Gutherson said it had also been cool to spend much of this week training out of the UFC Performance Institute.
“I’m not a fighter, I’m a lover,” the Dragons star laughed. “So I try to stay away from all that.
“But all the boys are in awe of the fighters.
“You can see them walking around black eyes and all banged up, but that’s just normal for them.
“And now we’re preparing to go do what we do on Saturday.”
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Gutherson also spoke about the work Ennis has been putting in with the Dragons halves during pre-season.
“Mick has got his own spin on how we want to play,” he said.
“Especially with Atko coming from the Sharks into a new system.
“But he and Kyle are going to be great. And we need them to be great.
“There is always going to be pressure on the halves but that’s what you get playing in that position.
“We need to step up and make sure they’re ready to go.”
Asked about Atkinson specifically, he continued: “He’s been really good.
“He’s come here for the chance to prove himself as a seven and, again, since the day he turned up he’s been loud, been talking.
“He’s learned off a couple of quality halves at the Sharks and now he’s come here for the opportunity to lead a team.
“He’s been given the keys to our team.
“We need to help him and start the season well.”
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