'Not acceptable': Flanagan lashes Dragons after shocker

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has vowed that the 56-6 loss to the Dolphins will be a blip on the radar and not a trend.
"I'll make sure of it. Don't you worry. That's my job," Flanagan said.
The veteran coach would not have been expecting such a dire display after two solid wins over Brisbane and Newcastle. Apart from the 46-18 loss to Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day the Dragons had been in every match this season, including three losses by a solitary point.
At Suncorp Stadium on Friday night the Dragons collapsed in a heap.
"We can make excuses but we are not here to make excuses. It just wasn't up to standard," Flanagan said.
"It is really disappointing. I just explained to the group that we will review it. We've got a short turnaround (before playing Cronulla on Thursday night).
"It's not acceptable for the Dragons and we will deal with it internally. We will review it closely. I haven't got an answer for you (as to) why (it happened)."
The Dragons lost winger Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) in the first half after he spent seven weeks out with the same injury.
"Hamstrings," the coach sighed.
"That is something else we will need to review. We gave him an extra week (off) and it is really frustrating from a coach's perspective. It is an area we are not flush with.
"To lose your winger in the first half is really difficult.It throws the whole rhythm of the team out."
Forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner was replaced due to shortness of breath in the second half. He went to hospital.
"I think it was something like an asthma attack and pretty bad. I haven't got any details just yet," Flanagan said.
Tuipulotu could be set for another lengthy stint on the sideline and Flanagan will review whether other changes are required for the clash with the Sharks away.
"I'll have a look at it," Flanagan said.
"I've been around long enough to learn that you have got to be careful straight after a game with what you say and what you do, especially in that space. We will review it and see who is available and make a decision then, but there could be (changes)."
The Dragons led early after Valentine Holmes landed a long-range penalty goal before having 50 consecutive points put on them. Flanagan said he had no regrets about the side taking the two points and not going for a try.
"I learned a long time ago from better coaches - Jack Gibson and Ron Massey - when two points are available and especially an early gift (you take them). I'd always take the two points," he said.
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has vowed that the 56-6 loss to the Dolphins will be a blip on the radar and not a trend.
"I'll make sure of it. Don't you worry. That's my job," Flanagan said.
The veteran coach would not have been expecting such a dire display after two solid wins over Brisbane and Newcastle. Apart from the 46-18 loss to Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day the Dragons had been in every match this season, including three losses by a solitary point.
At Suncorp Stadium on Friday night the Dragons collapsed in a heap.
"We can make excuses but we are not here to make excuses. It just wasn't up to standard," Flanagan said.
"It is really disappointing. I just explained to the group that we will review it. We've got a short turnaround (before playing Cronulla on Thursday night).
"It's not acceptable for the Dragons and we will deal with it internally. We will review it closely. I haven't got an answer for you (as to) why (it happened)."
The Dragons lost winger Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) in the first half after he spent seven weeks out with the same injury.
"Hamstrings," the coach sighed.
"That is something else we will need to review. We gave him an extra week (off) and it is really frustrating from a coach's perspective. It is an area we are not flush with.
"To lose your winger in the first half is really difficult.It throws the whole rhythm of the team out."
Forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner was replaced due to shortness of breath in the second half. He went to hospital.
"I think it was something like an asthma attack and pretty bad. I haven't got any details just yet," Flanagan said.
Tuipulotu could be set for another lengthy stint on the sideline and Flanagan will review whether other changes are required for the clash with the Sharks away.
"I'll have a look at it," Flanagan said.
"I've been around long enough to learn that you have got to be careful straight after a game with what you say and what you do, especially in that space. We will review it and see who is available and make a decision then, but there could be (changes)."
The Dragons led early after Valentine Holmes landed a long-range penalty goal before having 50 consecutive points put on them. Flanagan said he had no regrets about the side taking the two points and not going for a try.
"I learned a long time ago from better coaches - Jack Gibson and Ron Massey - when two points are available and especially an early gift (you take them). I'd always take the two points," he said.
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has vowed that the 56-6 loss to the Dolphins will be a blip on the radar and not a trend.
"I'll make sure of it. Don't you worry. That's my job," Flanagan said.
The veteran coach would not have been expecting such a dire display after two solid wins over Brisbane and Newcastle. Apart from the 46-18 loss to Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day the Dragons had been in every match this season, including three losses by a solitary point.
At Suncorp Stadium on Friday night the Dragons collapsed in a heap.
"We can make excuses but we are not here to make excuses. It just wasn't up to standard," Flanagan said.
"It is really disappointing. I just explained to the group that we will review it. We've got a short turnaround (before playing Cronulla on Thursday night).
"It's not acceptable for the Dragons and we will deal with it internally. We will review it closely. I haven't got an answer for you (as to) why (it happened)."
The Dragons lost winger Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) in the first half after he spent seven weeks out with the same injury.
"Hamstrings," the coach sighed.
"That is something else we will need to review. We gave him an extra week (off) and it is really frustrating from a coach's perspective. It is an area we are not flush with.
"To lose your winger in the first half is really difficult.It throws the whole rhythm of the team out."
Forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner was replaced due to shortness of breath in the second half. He went to hospital.
"I think it was something like an asthma attack and pretty bad. I haven't got any details just yet," Flanagan said.
Tuipulotu could be set for another lengthy stint on the sideline and Flanagan will review whether other changes are required for the clash with the Sharks away.
"I'll have a look at it," Flanagan said.
"I've been around long enough to learn that you have got to be careful straight after a game with what you say and what you do, especially in that space. We will review it and see who is available and make a decision then, but there could be (changes)."
The Dragons led early after Valentine Holmes landed a long-range penalty goal before having 50 consecutive points put on them. Flanagan said he had no regrets about the side taking the two points and not going for a try.
"I learned a long time ago from better coaches - Jack Gibson and Ron Massey - when two points are available and especially an early gift (you take them). I'd always take the two points," he said.

Hashtags

Sports

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Sam Short was Australia's brightest hope on the first night of the Olympics. He flopped

The Age

an hour ago

The Age

Sam Short was Australia's brightest hope on the first night of the Olympics. He flopped

'It just sucked. You dream your whole life about the Olympics and you miss out on the podium by, what, a fingernail? That's upsetting. 'I definitely wasn't myself in Paris. It was one of the lowest moments of my career, considering how hard I worked for it. It didn't pan out the way I wanted it to. 'I didn't really want to speak [to the media]. I kind of got in my head a little bit. I've definitely become mentally stronger over the last couple of months and done a lot of work with a sports psychologist.' Short will be back in the water next week at the Australian swimming trials in Adelaide, hoping to qualify for the world championships in Singapore that start on July 27. It was at last year's Olympic trials in Brisbane when it first emerged that Short wasn't at 100 per cent. He had been privately battling issues throughout the year. In January, Short tore the subscapularis muscle in his shoulder and was managing tendonitis and tennis elbow. Every stroke through the water was a painful reminder of what he was up against. He then picked up gastro before trials, losing five kilograms in the process. He made the Dolphins Olympic team, but admits there was an element of panic. Instead of resting, Short trained harder to make up for lost time — a decision that ultimately contributed to his struggles at the biggest moment of his career. 'I kind of just buried myself and ruined my immune system from that,' Short said. 'I was going into trials wounded. You always go into those things thinking you're going to be great. When you don't, it's a bit of a shock. 'If I'm doing 1000 strokes and eight kilometres a session, just to be fit enough for my races, that pain adds up through the whole week. It's really taxing … and gets very annoying, very quickly.' Short is at peace with what happened in Paris. Luck did not go his way, and he has already achieved much in a short career. Not once did he consider pulling out, despite knowing deep down his chances of success were slim — even if he finished less than a second behind 400m freestyle gold medallist Lukas Martens. 'I know other people that would do crazy stuff just for the opportunity I earned,' Short said. 'You've always got to step up.' Loading With his shoulder now feeling 'really strong', Short returned to the water. Instead of racing at Australia's national championships in April, Short found himself in Brazil, of all places, after a stint competing in the United States. His times were impressive, coming off a heavy block of altitude training. It bodes well for Monday night, when Short will race Olympic silver medallist Elijah Winnington in what will be one of the standout showdowns across six days of racing. Short's 400m freestyle time of three minutes, 43.84 seconds in April is the third-fastest in the world this year. 'I'm just so excited to race,' Short said. 'I've been training really well and I love the Adelaide pool. There's no way I won't be racing the best in the world again.' Titmus, who will be commentating for Channel Nine in Adelaide, says it's a hard race to call. 'I think there's hunger from both sides,' Titmus said. 'Although Elijah won a silver medal at the Olympics, which is outstanding, I believe he has more to give. Sam, I believe, has that hunger there that maybe Elijah doesn't. It'll be a wonderful race.'