Shane Flanagan has held a secret meeting with Canterbury prop Luke Thompson in a bid to strike his first blow in the player market since being appointed as St George Illawarra coach.
Thompson, off contract at the end of the season, met with Flanagan on Friday afternoon. The Dragons are short on middle forwards and believe the England international would be a timely addition to the pack. Thompson has had a luckless run with injury during his stint with the Bulldogs, who may yet attempt to retain him.
Thompson, considered one of the best forwards during his time in the Super League, arrived at Belmore with much fanfare. However, the England international has made just 38 NRL appearances since 2020.
Sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury, the 28-year-old still believes his best football is in front of him. Flanagan also feels that could be the case, which is why he outlined his vision for the Dragons on Friday.
The joint-venture outfit, in danger of earning its first wooden spoon after Friday’s 36-26 loss to Canberra, is at a crossroads with its roster. There is continued speculation about the future of star skipper Ben Hunt despite the captain committing to the embattled club until at least the end of the year. Having knocked back Hunt’s initial release request, Red V officials are bracing for him to again seek an early exit.
Given his likely destination for next season is the Gold Coast, the Dragons are expected to prise David Fifita or Tino Fa’asuamaleaui out of the Titans. The star forwards are effectively free agents given they had get-out clauses in their contracts tied to sacked coach Justin Holbrook.
Shane Flanagan is making a play for Canterbury prop Luke Thompson.Credit: Getty
From the moment Holbrook was axed – Des Hasler will take over at the Titans from 2024 – the pair had three months to explore rival offers.
However, both are settled on the Gold Coast and a move to the Dragons, sitting only above Wests Tigers on the competition ladder on for and against, would be a tough sell. Which is why Flanagan has turned to Thompson in a bid to bring experience and leadership to the Dragons pack.
Thompson is also mindful of the support the Bulldogs have offered him. In an interview with this masthead last year, he praised Canterbury officials for standing by him while he suffered post-concussion symptoms and for allowing him to visit his mother – who was suffering serious health issues – in England.
“I went home to help her get the treatment. I pretty much saved her life,” Thompson said at the time. “We got her the care she needed so that she’s in the best place and I could then come home and finish the season.”
Titans forwards Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita both have get-out clauses in their contracts tied to sacked coach Justin Holbrook.Credit: NRL Photos
Flanagan’s fingerprints are already starting to appear on the Dragons. The premiership-winning coach has secured Dean Young as his assistant for next year. Young will return to the club after spending three years as part of Todd Payten’s brains trust at the Cowboys.
The Dragons’ next match could determine the wooden spoon. After next week’s bye, they face Wests Tigers in Wollongong.
“Winning’s an ingrained habit and we need to make it an ingrained habit in this club,” interim Dragons coach Ryan Carr said. “We need to make sure that we keep learning, and learning how to win and why we did it. Once we get that, I feel like this group can really explode off the back of that confidence and that belief.
“[But] trying hard enough isn’t good enough. Winning is what we play for.”
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