The Dragons are set to let go of high-profile assistant Shane Flanagan, as the club begins a major clean-out in preparation for the 2021 season, per The Sydney Morning Herald.

Flanagan is seen as one of the league's next head coaches when his ban ends at the conclusion of next year, with the premiership coach now set to take his services elsewhere.

The Dragons assistant will leave the club following the appointment of Anthony Griffin for the head coaching gig, with interim coach Dean Young also in doubt to remain with the club under Griffin's reign.

"I was a little bit disappointed I missed out because I thought I interviewed well and gave it my best shot, but I can understand the clubโ€™s decision going with more experience," Young said.

"Anthony Griffin has been at two big clubs before and he has a winning percentage of around 55 per cent. I can fully understand the clubโ€™s decision to go that way."

Young is set to make a decision on his coaching future in the coming weeks, stating there's no hard feelings losing out to Griffin.

"I think heโ€™s going to do a great job," Young said. "Heโ€™s a great person, heโ€™s got a lot of experience.

"I think his time out of the game will make him a better coach. He would have reviewed what he did at the Broncos and Penrith. As a coach you learn every day and every year and Iโ€™m sure heโ€™s ready for the opportunity to turn this club around and turn it into a force again. I really hope he does.

"Iโ€™m in the coaching game for the long haul. Iโ€™m only 36 and Iโ€™ve been an assistant coach for six years. Iโ€™ve still got a lot to learn, as are probably head coaches that are 50 years of age. Where my journey goes Iโ€™m not too sure."

Flanagan would have remained with St George if Young was to be appointed as Paul McGregor's permanent successor, but will now look for labour with a rival club.

The league denied any chances of changing the conditions of Flanagan's ban for discussing with Cronulla representatives during the peptides suspension.

The Sharks will have a decision to make in regard to John Morris, with his contract ending on the Shire next season, with an option to reunite with their premiership winning coach in Flanagan.

The Sharks will be hoping 2021 could see a third consecutive finals appearance with Morris at the helm, as Cronulla look to secure a top eight placing in 2020.

Dragons high-performance manager Nathan Pickworth is also set to leave the club as St George prepare for a new era under Griffin.

 

 

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Parra should sign Flanagan to assist Brad Arthur until his suspension is finished and then he can take the reigns.
    BA has the Eels going backwards and has absolutely no idea how to fix it.
    With the squad we have we should be the minor premiers this year and be the favourites to win it all.
    BA won’t hire any decent assistant coaches out of fear of them showing him up and proving how useless he is.
    To go 2 out of our last 3 games not scoring a try is disastrous. I can’t see us bearing the Broncos or Tigers in the last 2 rounds. That will drop us out of the top 4 and we will get knocked out in the first round of the finals.

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