“We will be better”: Flanagan's message to Dragons fans for 2025

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is confident his new look Dragons side will perform better in season 2025 than their previous season on the back of their new recruits.

The Dragons have been a big player in the NRL off-season after signing veteran stars like Damien Cook, Clint Gutherson and Valentine Holmes in addition to former South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias.

Despite at times being inconsistent during the 2024 season, the Dragons narrowly missed out on a finals berth which Flanagan is determined to achieve next season.

“We will be better again,” Flanagan told SEN 1170.

“This past year was certainly a learning curve. Players needed to be fitter and stronger and everyone improved in that area and it helped performance.

“We have got better players this year. People laugh and say we are going to have more losses but we are going to be a way better football team next year than we were last year.

“I couldn’t wait to get (Gutherson) and now that we’ve got him, we’ve seen what an (incredible) athlete he is and his endurance. His experience will be invaluable for us.

“Valentine Holmes will be really valuable for us at left centre.

“We are a year older as a group. I’m excited about it.”

The Dragons will be without Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax in 2025 after they were released from their contracts and signed deals with Brisbane and Parramatta respectively.

Lomax enjoyed a career best year on the wing in 2024 which resulted in representative honours for both Australia and New South Wales.

Lomax was vocal about his displeasure at Flanagan’s decision to place him on the wing and despite his exit, Flanagan hopes the 25-year-old thrives at his new home.

“I’m happy for him. He’s played Origin and also played for his country,” Flanagan said.

“That wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t put him on the wing.

“At the end of the day, I made the decision but he had to apply himself and he really tried hard.

“As a coach, you just have to get on with it and I got great satisfaction in seeing Zac play.”

The Dragons host the Bulldogs in Kogarah for Round 1 of the 2025 season.