Roosters playmaker Kyle Flanagan has played his last game for the Tricolours after a year that failed to impress, with Shane Flanagan revealing his son feels "gutted" after his first season with the Chooks.
Whilst showing some promise in a side full of star talent, the 22-year-old's place in the squad came under fire following the Roosters' straight-sets exit from the finals.
The Roosters confirmed Flanagan wouldn't receive a new contract, with Trent Robinson looking in favour of young pair Sam Walker and Lachie Lam.
His father soon revealed that the Roosters playmaker did not see the decision coming.
โHe had no idea of it,โ Flanagan toldย The Daily Telegraph.ย
โYes, he was gutted.
โFor me he had a really good season and he played well in that last game.โ
It has also been revealed that Flanagan played through a majority of the Roosters' semi-final loss to Canberra with a shoulder injury.
โHe had to go and get painkillers at halftime with an AC joint,โ Shane Flanagan said.
โThey told him he shouldnโt go back but he played the whole game.
โIt is a pretty nasty injury and he did well.
โHe is a tough kid.โ
Flanagan commended the efforts made by his son, stating how impressed he was given it was his first senior year.
โI thought he busted his arse for his first year of NRL this year,โ he said.
โIf you play halfback at the Roosters you are going to get criticised sometimes.
โBut I just thought it was a little bit unwarranted.โ
Flanagan was seen as the successor to Cooper Cronk at Bondi, with the Roosters and Storm premiership player backing the youngsters potential.
โHands down heโs got the ability to lead any football team around the paddock and be a gun No. 7,โ he said.
โSpeaking from my own experience, I was nowhere near my end product at 21 years of age. This kid has played less than 40 games of first grade.
โHeโs holding his gloves up and fighting every inch for it and in three or four years time weโve seen the development of, letโs use Nathan Cleary.
โThereโs no doubt young Flanagan can improve and improve to the level that he wants to and be a very influential player in this competition.โ
The Roosters have said that everyone wants to play for them. Hereโs yet another example of why thatโs not such a great idea for young players. They more than any other club are quick to give players the shaft , if they view you as not coming up to their standards quickly enough. Great development club ? Donโt think so!!!
Actual development clubs work harder with individual players & are more patient .
I bet Flanagan wishes he didnโt go to the Roosters.
I think he has been hard done by. But the Roosters have always done this. I remember the money thrown at John Simon to pinch him from the Steelers.
Flanno would never have left Sharks if Townsend wasnt in the way.
In my eyes, at best, Townsend is a 7/10 player & Flanno could be an 8 or 9.