NRL
11 hours ago
Young swings axe on Flanagan, Kade Reed to debut
By SEN
New Dragons' interim coach Dean Young has confirmed young halfback Kade Reed will debut on ANZAC Day in place of Kyle Flanagan in his first major shake-up at the joint-venture.
Young will assume the role of head coach after Shane Flanagan was axed at on Monday, along with head of football Ben Haran.
Young has also made the decision to remove Michael Ennis from his role as assistant coach, a Dragons statement confirmed.
"The St George Illawarra Dragons have confirmed that assistant coach Michael Ennis has left the club due to a restructuring of the football program following recent coaching changes," a Dragons statement reads.
"The change forms part of the club’s broader reset under interim Head Coach Dean Young."
Tom Eisenhuth and Willie Talau will form the new assistant coaches supporting Young.
Ennis has been the club's attacking coach in recent years with Dean Young taking care of the defensive side of things.
Young was last night appointed interim coach, appointed by the board to take over the side for the remainder of 2026.
The decision likely places Young in the box seat to take over the Dragons' role full-time from 2027.
Young was excited to take up the role of interim coach at a side he enjoyed great success at as a player.
"It’s a privilege to lead this club,” Young said. “This current group of players mean a lot to me. I want to support them through this transition.
“Our focus right now is staying connected as a team and being the best version of ourselves on Anzac Day.”
Dragons Chief Executive Officer Tim Watsford said Young was the right person to guide the team through the immediate period.
“Dean understands this club better than most,” Watsford said.
“He has a deep connection to the Dragons and the respect of our players and staff.
“This appointment provides the football program with stability and leadership while the club undertakes a thorough process around its long-term coaching future.
“Our priority right now is to support Dean and the playing group as they restore consistency in our performance and ensure the standards of this club are upheld every day.”
Speaking earlier today, David Riccio said that assistant coach Dean Young is his ideal replacement as the interim head coach at St George Illawarra.
Following the sacking of the 2016 Premiership coach, contenders for his position have quickly emerged.
Out of the options being considered for the interim position, Young is the most likely to be appointed.
And given his knowledge of the side, Riccio believes that it is a no-brainer decision.
“If they don't stand there today and say Dean Young is our interim coach, from today, I have no idea what they're doing,” he told SEN’s Front Office with Vossy.
“You can throw all the names up you want, but Dean Young is ready to go.
“He knows the players, he knows the systems, he knows the pathways, players and the guys that he can promote from within.
“For an immediate appointment, Dean Young is the answer.
“I just think it's the most seamless transition to appoint Dean Young and then assess where you want to go beyond that.
“You don't have to lock Dean Young in as your long-term coach.
“Put him in as your interim, see how it goes, very much like Manly and Kieran Foran.”
But as he notes, the Dragons should be careful, given that other clubs could potentially want his services.
“They'd better be careful,” he continued.
“Because the Cowboys have a high opinion of Dean Young (and) are yet to make a call on their own coach, Todd Payten.
“They are at risk of losing Dean Young should the Cowboys move on Todd Payten.”
"Every chance": Can the Dragons pull off a Manly-esque turnaround?
With St George Illawarra having now parted ways with Shane Flanagan, Perth Bears assistant coach Ben Gardiner believes the side is capable of turning their form around like Manly has done under Kieran Foran.
The Dragons find themselves in a similar position to the Sea Eagles, who parted ways with their coach just four weeks ago after not winning a game for the season.
Following Anthony Seibold’s departure from Manly in Round 4, the club appointed Foran as the interim coach, who has won all three games in charge and is now in 6th place.
When asked whether the 0-7 Dragons are capable of turning their form around under an interim coach, Gardiner believes they have every chance of doing so.
“We talked a few weeks ago about confidence and belief,” he told SEN’s Front Office with Vossy.
“I think that that's the difference with Manly at the moment.
“Kieran (has) given them confidence, and now they've got some belief in what they're doing because they have had some wins.
“I think that the Dragons, it's a similar situation.
“I think they've got some really experienced players that aren't playing very well down there.
“If they can get those players to build some confidence and go out and play to their strengths.
“That's also something that Manly's been doing, is they're playing to their strengths, I think.
“They have every chance to turn it around.”
"Grossly let down": Flanagan sacked by Dragons
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has been sacked by the club after a dismal run of 11 defeats.
At a press conference on Monday morning, club chairman Andrew Lancaster and CEO Tim Watsford confirmed they would be parting ways with the head coach and head of football, Ben Haran.
"I will start by thanking Shane and Ben for their contributions to the Dragons," Lancaster said. "Good people under significant pressure.
"To the fans; performance is not to your expectation. Changes have bveen made and we will continue to evaluate changes that need to be made.
"We got to this position as a club and we will get out of this position as a club.
"We are all accountable. Players, coaches and the board.
"We share your frustration. Results have not been there. We are in a challenging period and one we will work our way through.
"We are one club."
The Dragons currently occupy the bottom of the NRL ladder and SEN's Corey Parker believes Flanagan has been "grossly let down" by his senior players.
Reacting to reports of Flanagan's demise published by The Sydney Morning Herald, Parker said: "It hasn't worked - for whatever reason. He's had the opportunity, this is his third season.
"He has the feet under the desk. He has a couple of players in, a couple of experienced older players in who have grossly let him down.
"One in particular one the weekend - Val Holmes. Twelve missed tackles - boy oh boy. These are the people that set standards and values."
The Dragons will announce their interim coach in the coming days as they prepare for their Anzac Day clash against the Roosters.
