The once feared and respected Dragons are in such a big hole right now that it’s going to take years for them to fight their way to the surface.
Nine consecutive losses dating back to last year have left St George IIlawarra supporters angry, frustrated and looking for someone to blame.
It’s coach killing season right now so, of course, the easy target is Shane Flanagan.
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The vultures are circling. He may only have one more game to save his job if you believe the street corner talk.
The Red V army is among the most loyal in the game so for them to boo the players off Kogarah Oval following Saturday night’s 32-0 loss to the Cowboys says plenty.
It didn’t happen to be me a lot when I was playing but it sure does sting when the fans turn on you like that.
But I get it. They are hurting big time.
St George Illawarra’s fans booed them off Kogarah Oval. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Their team hasn’t played finals football since 2018 and have only made the finals once in 10 years.
The Saints won’t feature in this year’s play-offs, that much is obvious after just five games.
In fact, they will be doing well not to collect the joint venture’s first wooden spoon.
There is no doubt some of the criticism coming Flanno’s way is warranted.
He did sign Damien Cook, Val Holmes and Clint Gutherson at a point in time where the highpoints in their careers were in the rearview mirror.
Daniel Atkinson has come across from the Sharks but made little impact, continuing the ongoing struggle to find a cohesive halves pairing.
The Saints have unearthed some promising young forwards but they all need another 30-50 games under their belt before you could say they were genuine NRL material.
They do have South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi headed their way next year, although he will have to be Arthur Beetson, Glenn Lazarus and Payne Haas rolled into one to make an immediate impact.
Keaon Koloamatangi will make his way to the Dragons next year. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
And you have to wonder if he’s having second thoughts about swapping red and green for red and white.
The Dragons obviously believe Flanagan is the right man to turn it all around, having extended his contract until the end of 2028.
Or, to be more precise, they did believe.
The five straight losses to start 2026 has anxiety levels through the roof at Dragons HQ and Flanno needs some runs on the board quickly to calm the farm.
He looked a broken man in the post-match press conference on Saturday evening.
No coach likes losing but they will accept defeat a little easier if they’ve seen some effort, commitment and areas of green shoots.
St George Illawarra were shut out by the Cowboys. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
There was very little of that at Kogarah, highlighted by two separate moments in the game.
One was from an attacking scrum, with the visitors down to 12 men and looking vulnerable.
The Dragons tried to put on some sort of move but almost ran into each other attempting to executing it, coughing up the ball for North Queensland winger Braidon Burns to run 90m and score untouched.
Later in the game, Saints were defending their line as the Cowboys shifted the ball left with not a lot doing.
The ball actually hit the ground at one stage but the Dragons’ defence was so passive and disjointed they were still burnt on the outside and conceded in the corner.
That’s not a coach problem; that’s a player problem.
Flanagan knows a Dragons revival is not a quick fix.
He’s also realistic enough to know he won’t be there much longer unless a remedy can be found and found soon.
AND DON’T GET ME STARTED
A week is a long time in rugby league.
It was just 11 days ago Manly kicked Anthony Seibold to the kerb and installed Kieran Foran as interim coach for the rest of 2026.
I wrote at the time I was in favour of a more experienced coach – Brad Arthur – taking the reins in 2027 and stand by that.
But it doesn’t mean I didn’t want Foz to succeed.
My exact words were: “As a former Manly man, I truly hope it works out.
“Like me, Foran has a deep love for the club and its fans and will be fully invested in turning this dreadful start to the season around.”
Well, didn’t things get off to a great start.
The 34-point thrashing of a B-grade Dolphins side has understandably put a bounce in the step of everyone associated with the club.
Manly thrashed the Dolphins on Saturday. Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
While a solitary game is far too small a sample size to fully dissect Foran’s readiness for the job fulltime, it was one helluva audition.
I just hope the hype surrounding the rookie coach subsides a touch as there is still plenty to do to return this great club to where it belongs.
