Shane Flanagan has confirmed he’ll take over as Dragons head coach, beginning his Red V tenure in 2024.
The former Cronulla coach led the Sharks to a premiership in 2016 and is at present an assistant to Anthony Seibold on the Sea Eagles.
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“I received the great news today that the St George Illawarra Dragons board have unanimously supported my appointment as Head Coach starting in 2024,” Flanagan stated in an announcement to foxsports.com.au.
“The details will be finalised over the next few days and once completed I will supply a detailed press release.
“It would be an understatement if I didn’t express my excitement at being appointed Head Coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons.
“Thank you for the overwhelming support.”
Flanagan is not any stranger to the Dragons, having joined the Red V membership as an assistant to Paul McGregor in 2020 earlier than he was let go by Anthony Griffin in 2021.
He was then introduced again in February final yr as a List Management Consultant earlier than making the transfer to Manly.
Rookie coach Jason Ryles turned down the Dragons head teaching place to as a substitute be a part of the Melbourne Storm in 2024.
Flanagan beat out a powerful record of candidates together with present Rabbitohs assistant Ben Hornby and present Cowboys assistant Dean Young – with each being thought of future NRL head coaches.
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The 57-year-old has not held a head teaching position since 2018 when he was de-registered for failing to stay to the circumstances of a suspension handed down in 2014.
He was suspended for 12 months because the Sharks’ head coach on account of his position within the membership’s dietary supplements program scandal in 2011 and was not permitted to have any contact with the membership throughout that interval.
Speaking on NRL360 on Tuesday evening, league reporter David Riccio revealed the finer particulars of the contract can be finalised very quickly.
“I understand it’ll be a three year deal for Shane Flanagan, to the point where those details are being nutted out as we speak,” Riccio stated.
We may have a call and a contract signed by the top of tonight.”
Riccio additionally hinted that Dean Young could also be a possible candidate to fill an assistant place below Flanagan.
“In that contract and through this negotiation phase with Shane, there’s been no suggestion that: ‘Shane, you must put Dean Young on board with you’,” Riccio stated.
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“Therefore Shane’s been able to go through this contract negotiation phase with freedom, there’s been no pressure from the board .
“However, in saying that, Dean Young and Shane Flanagan get on. They worked together previously when Dean Young was the interim coach of the Dragons. They’re both defensive-minded coaches.
“It wouldn’t shock me if Dean did come back in an assistant role, and then naturally there could be a process of Dean Young taking over. But it’s not been (discussed).”
But, within the eyes of The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley, Flanagan gained’t be contemplating handing the position away in years to come back.
“He’s not an old man. We’re not talking about Wayne Bennett who is in his 70s. We’re talking about a bloke who is 57 years of age,” Crawley stated.
“His intentions, you would imagine, would be to come in and coach a decade.
“So Dean Young has to ask himself, does he want to sit behind Shane Flanagan for the long term? Does he want to stay at the Cowboys? And potentially there could be other jobs come up in the next few months.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au