It’s a new era at the Bulldogs — and fans can expect a new Kyle Flanagan too.
A settled combination with Matt Burton as well as the addition of Reed Mahoney at hooker has eased the pressure on a much more confident Flanagan.
The 24-year-old spoke to foxsports.com.au about the big word that new coach Cameron Ciraldo is using — “connection.”
Ciraldo is driving it within the squad both on and off the field — and Flanagan is feeling it more than ever.
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Mahoney has arrived with over 100 NRL games to his name and more importantly, finals experience.
Flanagan, who is in the final year of his $1.4 million deal, believes just “having (Mahoney’s) presence out there and his control” will make a difference to his own game.
“That’s probably the biggest thing because then I don’t have to worry about controlling every play, he can look after plays one to four and I can worry about the last play and where I want to land my kicks,” Flanagan said.
“In previous years I tried to be involved in every play where this year I don’t need to be involved in every play — I can pick my moments a lot better.
“We’ve got a lot of good players here so everyone can share the load more.”
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Burton agreed that Mahoney — “a gun” — will improve the Dogs’ attack.
“Just his service from dummy-half gives me a lot more time to do what I do,” he told foxsports.com.au.
Flanagan had a tough start to last season. He was left out of the 17 in favour of Jake Averillo and forced to bide his time in reserve grade.
He returned to the line-up in Round 5 and retained his spot for the rest of the season. He finished the year as the first-choice halfback and with 20 games under his belt.
Flanagan said his confidence “definitely” improved as the season went on — especially when interim coach Mick Potter took over.
“I’ve always had the mentality that I’m improving with each game, I’m just adding another brick to the wall I’m trying to build,” he said.
“I felt like myself and ‘Burto’ last year, our connection got better as the season went on.
“Confidence was a big one, when ‘Potts’ came in he really backed me.”
Flanagan is still the club’s first-choice No.7. A full pre-season of knowing where he fits in the team has helped him to become really sure of what his job is.
“My role is pretty simple and it’s just to bring everything together, to be the conductor, to be the calm head out there that just steers the ship,” he said.
“I know what my strengths are and that’s leading the team around and getting the ball in our strike players’ hands when they need it.
“I think when I was younger I found it a little intimidating (ordering big-name players around) but I learnt early on at the Roosters that those high class players demand that off you especially when you play halfback so I’m quite used to it now.
“They demand you to tell them what to do and they want that from you. That’s a crucial part of being a halfback.”
Flanagan endured a “rollercoaster” start to his NRL career. He was recruited to the Roosters as Cooper Cronk’s successor, only to be shown the door after one season.
He was dropped three times in a brutal first season with the Bulldogs under Trent Barrett in 2021.
Flanagan believes he’s come out the other side of that turmoil with some important lessons. He used to try and mould his game off Cronk — but is instead focusing on figuring out his own identity as a halfback.
“It’s definitely made me a more resilient person and I definitely feel like I’ve looked at my game in a lot of detail since I’ve been through those challenges,” he said.
“I understand my game a lot better now and what I can bring to the team.
“I’ve always had the mentality that when you go through a hardship you can take positive things out of it. I feel like I’ve come out of the rollercoaster a better person and hopefully a better player.
“I think when I walked in from day one of pre-season I just had a clear mindset and I was just willing to learn, willing to get better. I feel fresh.
“I’ve changed my mentality, I want to make my own identity.
“I just want to be a Kyle Flanagan and find out what that looks like. Not try to replicate what everyone else does, but just find out what works for me.”
Read on for foxsports.com.au’s Bulldogs season preview.
STRENGTH
Matt Burton. The star five-eighth boasts the most terrifying bombs in the competition and is coming off a hugely successful season in which he made his State of Origin and Kangaroos debut. Burton is the Bulldogs’ best player and would walk into any rival club’s 17 — that’s why the club has locked him in until the end of 2027. Burton is going into his second season at the Bulldogs, he’s settled and is a player worth building around. He told foxsports.com.au that he “didn’t even bother” looking at any other offers from rival clubs. He feels at home because of “the passion of the fans — they’re easily the best in the comp,” he said.
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IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Hayze Perham/whoever nails down the No.1 jersey and Kyle Flanagan. Perham was Cameron Ciraldo’s first choice fullback but that might have changed after a shaky performance in the Bulldogs’ trial loss to the Sharks. His next best option is Jake Averillo, who looked dangerous at fullback last season but has spent the summer training in the centres. Regardless of who Ciraldo goes with, they’re going to need a huge year to retain the No.1 jersey in 2024 when Stephen Crichton arrives. Crichton has aspirations to play fullback and that’s the position the Bulldogs recruited him to play. This season is also looming as make or break for Flanagan at the Bulldogs. He’s coming off contract and the club’s initial interest in Mitchell Moses suggests he may not be in the plans for the future. But if it’s up to Flanagan, he wants to re-sign. When asked by foxsports.com.au if he wants to stay, he said: “Yeah definitely. The amount of detail, the learning and hardworking environment (Cameron Ciraldo) has created here is something I thrive on.”
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
The marquee recruits. Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau have arrived to Belmore with a lot of expectations hanging over them. Kikau is a three-time Dally M Second-rower of the Year and a two-time premiership-winner, while Mahoney helped steer the Eels to the grand final last season. Jeremy Marshall-King improved out of sight last season but the reality is the last time the Bulldogs had a top tier hooker was in 2014 when Michael Ennis wore the No.9 jersey. Mahoney has been recruited to fix that for at least the next four seasons. The club has forked out big cash — with Kikau on a reported $800,000 a season and Mahoney on around $650,000 — and they’ll need to deliver to make it worthwhile.
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THE RISING STAR
Jacob Preston. He hasn’t got an NRL game to his name yet but that is expected to change this season. The 21-year-old had only played a handful of New South Wales Cup games for the North Sydney Bears before signing his very first Top 30 deal with the Bulldogs. The hardworking second-rower was singled out by football manager Phil Gould as the player that impressed him the most over pre-season and he showed over the trial period that he can absolutely mix it with the big names.
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THE UNLUCKY ONES
Nu Brown or Josh Reynolds. They’re in a battle for the bench utility role but there can only be one winner. Brown overcame an injury that threatened his career to earn a train-and-trial opportunity with the Tigers and eventually nail down a spot in their 17. The 28-year-old spent a couple of years in the Bulldogs system before a stint in the UK and returns in the peak of his career. His versatility and knack for scoring out of dummy-half could be what earns him the role. But then there’s Reynolds. The Bulldogs’ favourite son returned on a train-and-trial and impressed enough to earn the final spot in the Top 30. He may not be quite as versatile as Brown but he lives and breathes the Bulldogs — and the impact of that on the field can’t be overlooked. Reynolds wasn’t happy with his defence in the second trial but he showed he still has the vision and skill to offer plenty in the NRL.
PREDICTED FINISH
10th
BEST 17
1. Hayze Perham
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Jake Averillo
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Tevita Pangai Junior
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Luke Thompson
14. Josh Reynolds
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Jacob Preston
17. Corey Waddell
2023 squad: Andrew Davey (2024), Bailey Biondi-Odo (2023), Braidon Burns (2023), Brandon Clarke (2023), Christopher Patolo (2023), Corey Waddell (2023), Declan Casey (2023), Franklin Pele (2024), Hayze Perham (2024), Jackson Topine (2024), Jacob Kiraz (2024), Jacob Preston (2024), Jake Averillo (2023), Jayden Okunbor (2023), Jeral Skelton (2024), Josh Addo-Carr (2025), Kyle Flanagan (2023), Luke Thompson (2023), Matt Burton (2027), Max King (2024), Paul Alamoti (2024), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2025), Reed Mahoney (2026), Ryan Sutton (2025), Samuel Hughes (2023), Tevita Pangai Junior (2024), Viliame Kikau (2026)
Development players: Isaac Matalavea-Booth (2023), Iverson Matai (2023), Jordan Samrani (2023), Joseph O’Neill (2023)
2023 gains: Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles), Franklin Pele (Sharks), Hayze Perham (Eels), Josh Reynolds (Hull FC), Nu Brown (Tigers), Jacob Preston (Bears), Karl Oloapu (Broncos)
2023 losses: Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Matt Dufty (Warrington), Joe Stimson (Titans), Josh Jackson (retired), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Ava Seumanufagai (Leigh), Corey Allan (Roosters)
2024 gains: Stephen Crichton (from Panthers), Bronson Xerri (return from ban)
Coach: Cameron Ciraldo (2027)
