The third coming of Shane Flanagan has Dragons fans daring to dream the premiership-winning NRL coach can take their club back to the promised land.
Flanagan will have his work cut out, with skipper Ben Hunt still agitating for a release and his halves partners Junior Amone facing a lengthy suspension.
But the veteran coach has previously rebuilt an NRL club from the ashes and he won’t shy away from the challenge in Wollongong.
Read on for the St George Illawarra Dragons’ State of Play.
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Ponga ready to recreate Dally M form | 01:05
2023 FINISH: 15th W5 L19
COACH: Shane Flanagan
Flanagan has had his controversies, but the 57-year-old’s winning record is undeniable and he’ll be one of just seven NRL coaches in 2024 to have won a title.
The Sharks were dead last when Flanagan took over halfway through 2010 and just six years later he delivered the club its first premiership.
Still, after copping two bans from the NRL for breaches related to Cronulla’s ASADA scandal, it took some convincing for the Dragons to take a punt on Flanagan.
St George Illawarra officials thought they’d locked in Roosters assistant Jason Ryles before he backflipped at the 11th hour and joined the Storm.
It left Flanagan standing as the last man standing and after convincing the board he’d learnt from his mistakes, the Dragons signed him on a three-year contract.
If any of coaches that were on the market in 2023 are capable of turning this underachieving club around, it’s Flanagan.
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SQUAD: Alec Tu’itavake (2024), Ben Hunt (2025), Ben Murdoch-Masila (2024), Blake Lawrie (2026), Cody Ramsey (2024), Daniel Russell (2024, MO 2025), Francis Molo (2024), Hame Sele (2026), Jack de Belin (2024), Jack Bird (2024, MO 2025), Jacob Liddle (2025, MO 2026), Jaydn Su’A (2024), Kyle Flanagan (2025), Mathew Feagai (2024), Max Feagai (2024), Michael Molo (2024), Mikaele Ravalawa (2026), Moses Suli (2024), Paul Turner (2024), Ryan Couchman (2025), Savelio Tamale (2024), Sione Finau (2025), Talatau Amone (2024), Toby Couchman (2025), Tyrell Sloan (2024), Viliami Fifita (2024), Zac Lomax (2026)
PLAYERS IN: Kyle Flanagan (Bulldogs), Hame Sele (Rabbitohs)
Kyle Flanagan – who was recruited as a hooker – will play in the halves alongside Ben Hunt, with Dragons incumbent No. 6 Amone stood down as he awaits sentencing after being found guilty of a string of assault charges.
Amone is facing jail time and will be sentenced on December 6, and best case scenario he’ll receive a lengthy suspension from the NRL.
“The plan was to transition Kyle into a No. 9 over the next couple of years but he’ll have to stay in the halves for a little bit, which I’ve got no problems with,” Shane Flanagan said.
“I’ve always thought Kyle’s style with Benny Hunt will work perfectly because Benny is a runner, so he’ll get a shot there.
“The narrative around Kyle has changed a little bit, he’s come here as a 14 from a 6, 7 and 9 and now he’s going to have to play in the halves a little bit more.”
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Sele made his NRL debut at the Dragons in 2017 and returns after stints at the Panthers and Rabbitohs.
The 27-year-old prop has 72 NRL games to his name, while also making one appearance for NSW City in 2017.
PLAYERS OUT: Jayden Sullivan (Wests Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Warrington Wolves), Billy Burns (unsigned), Tyrell Fuimaono (unsigned), Jaiyden Hunt (Broncos), Nick Lui-Toso (unsigned), Tautau Moga (unsigned)
WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Attack
The Dragons have been a one-man band in attack in recent years, with halfback Ben Hunt the only consistent threat with the ball in hand.
Hunt’s lack of support has left him so frustrated that he’s repeatedly asked to be released this year, but Flanagan has refused.
The Dragons had one of the NRL’s worst attacks in 2023, averaging just 19.75 points per game during a season that produced only five wins.
Things aren’t going to get any easier in 2024, with incumbent five-eighth Junior Amone facing a lengthy ban after being found guilty of assault.
Flanagan has vowed to work hard this summer with fullback Tyrell Sloan and centre Zac Lomax, who both have plenty of talent but are prone to mistakes.
WHO THEY COULD SIGN: a fullback
Flanagan has made no secret of his desire to sign a quality fullback since the coach took office and he’s already singled out 2025 free agents Joey Manu and Connor Tracey.
Tyrell Sloan played almost every game at fullback for the Dragons in 2023 but the new coach wants another option at the back, with Zac Lomax to also spend time training there this summer.
“Sloan is a good player and only young but obviously with injury and form, I need someone else who can do that job,” Flanagan told foxsports.com.au last month.
“I can’t go in with just Sloan. We’re going to trial Lomax there a little bit but for me I need two fullbacks.
“Most squads will have an option there, the good teams will have a big No. 1 then an option that can slot in there.
“I haven’t really got an option at the moment, so that’s why Manu and Tracey fit in.”
Madge pleas for buy in at first presser | 15:56
PLAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: Kyle Flanagan
Kyle made his NRL debut under his father at the Sharks in 2018 before tumultuous stints at the Roosters and Bulldog and has played 79 NRL games.
Father-son combinations in the NRL have been heavily scrutinised but Flanagan doesn’t believe Kyle will be under pressure in 2024.
“Kyle is being relieved of the pressure. He’s been under pressure at the Bulldogs for three years because they haven’t won and he was the halfback,” Flanagan said.
“So coming in here he won’t be under pressure, he’s just got to do his job here because we’ve got Benny Hunt.
“There could be some external pressure that I can’t control but he’ll be under no pressure with me and I know I can get the best out of him.”
The only way to silence the critics is through wins, which is exactly how Kevin and Billy Walters did it at the Broncos this year.
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YOUNG GUN TO WATCH: The Couchman twins
The Dragons have always boasted a strong nursery of juniors and twins Ryan and Toby Couchman – who both made their NRL debut in 2023 – are the latest local talent.
Second rower Ryan played 15 games while prob Toby made five appearances and Flanagan plans on taking their game to another level in 2024.
“They’ve got some go about them and they’ll be a heap better for it having had some experience this year,” he said.
“They probably played NRL maybe a little bit before their time but they’re still only young, 19 years old, and played first grade in the middle.
“They can play on the edge too so I’m really looking forward to coaching them and I think they’ve got big bright futures.”
