Dragons get behind coach Flanagan with new NRL deal
Despite the Dragons long shots to make this season's top eight, the club announced a two-year extension for Flanagan, which follows the recent appointment of former Parramatta and Warriors coach Daniel Anderson as the club's head of recruitment and pathways.
Flanagan was off contract at the end of next season.
In a statement the club said Flanagan's extension "reaffirms the club's commitment to stability, growth, and a long-term vision for success both on and off the field".
"Shane has played a critical role in setting the foundation for where this club is heading," Dragons boss Tim Watsford said in a statement on Friday.
"He's re-instilled belief in our playing group, coaches and supporters together with reiterating the privilege of wearing the Red V."
Flano extends ✍️The Dragons are pleased to announce the extension of Head Coach Shane Flanagan.Full story - https://t.co/uXn9HzIUmD pic.twitter.com/MB1a8oA3q6
— St George Illawarra Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) August 8, 2025
Preparing for Saturday's derby clash with Cronulla, who he coached to a historic premiership in 2016, Flanagan was excited by his future at the Dragons, particularly after luring Anderson from the Sydney Roosters.
"It's a privilege to continue to coach the Dragons, a club built on such a rich history," he said.
"The playing group is full of talent and I'm excited by the prospect of realising success for the Red V over the coming years.
"It's clear the club is setting structures and processes in place to deliver outcomes for years to come and to be entrusted by the board and management is something I don't take for granted."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rockets' Aussies eclipsed by Southern Brave starlet
Australian trio Ash Gardner, Alana King and Heather Graham were powerless to prevent their Trent Rockets side slipping to a six-wicket defeat by a teenager-inspired Southern Brave in the Hundred at Trent Bridge. Spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, 17, took 4-13, including Bryony Smith for 10 and England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt without scoring in her opening spell. Gardner, the Rockets captain, showed some defiance, hitting 25 from 16 balls before being bowled by Lauren Bell while King made an undefeated 24. The other batters fell away with Corteen-Coleman going on to dismiss Graham for three and Emma Jones for another duck. Start as you mean to go on! 🤯Tilly Corteen-Coleman finishes with 4 wickets for 13 runs! 👏#TheHundred — The Hundred (@thehundred) August 16, 2025 With the hosts reeling on 8-55, Kirstie Gordon managed 32 from 27 balls to at least post a competitive total of 106. In reply, Maia Bouchier scored 42 off 30 balls and Sophie Devine was unbeaten on 41 as the Brave reached 4-109 with two balls to spare. Elsewhere, Sophia Smale took 3-13 as Oval Invincibles produced a comfortable victory over Welsh Fire. The visitors, set a target of 151, were skittled for just 111 off 97 balls at The Oval despite opener Sophia Dunkley hitting 56. Invincibles captain Lauren Winfield-Hill had earlier suffered a first-ball duck but Alice Capsey starred with 55 as they posted 5-150. Australian opener Meg Lanning hit 23 before falling lbw and compatriot Amanda-Jade Wellington added 17. Wellington then took the wickets of Hayley Matthews and Georgia Davis to finish with figures of 2-24 while Lanning took two catches.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I'm blown away': coach hails Wallabies' crazy comeback
The Wallabies have pulled off a miraculous comeback to open the Rugby Championship in grand style with a famous 38-22 triumph over the world champion Springboks in South Africa. If this wasn't the Wallabies' greatest ever victory, it was certainly their most improbable after Joe Schmidt's revitalised outfit recovered from 22-0 down in Johannesburg. With skipper Harry Wilson, fellow back-rower Fraser McReight, fullback Tom Wright and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor starring, the Wallabies piled on four unanswered second-half tries to record Australia's first victory over the Springboks at altitude since 1963. The stirring success came at a cost, though, with Wilson escorted off with a possible ACL knee injury after touching down for his second try and winger Dylan Pietsch sustaining a suspected broken jaw. What just happened?! 🤯Our first win at Ellis Park in 62 years.#Wallabies — Wallabies (@wallabies) August 16, 2025 Minutes after crossing for Australia's opening try, Pietsch came off second best in a collision with Springboks captain Siya Kolisi. But the Wallabies are otherwise savouring a truly incredible win at Ellis Park. The two-time defending world champion Springboks looked set to consign Australia's last-up victory over the British and Irish Lions to a distant memory when they raced out to their 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes. Schmidt described the Wallabies' start as "horrendous" and said relief was his over-riding emotion in the immediate aftermath to a pulsating encounter. "I'm just blown away a little bit by the way they stayed in the game," he said. You seeing this?!#Wallabies — Wallabies (@wallabies) August 16, 2025 "Because at 22-0 down after 20 minutes, it would be easy to fall out of the game. "I know how much it means to them. They're incredibly proud of the gold jersey that they wear and the bond that they're forming between themselves." In a lightning start, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse bagged South Africa's opening try after just 94 seconds. Initially unable to cope with the home team's awesome skill and firepower, the Wallabies conceded a second when centre Andre Esterhuizen completed the slickest of raids in the 12th minute. Kolisi palmed off McReight at the back of a ruck to continue the better-than-a-point-a-minute scoring blitz with South Africa's third try before the Wallabies finally found their second wind. Pietsch put Australia on the board after 28 minutes when he finished off some nice lead-up work from O'Connor and centre Len Ikitau, who handled twice in the movement. Pietsch lasted only two more minutes before his head caught the shoulder of Kolisi while trying to stop South Africa's rampaging No.8. His side trailing 22-5 at the break, Schmidt felt the Wallabies could still win. "We talked mostly about the second 20 (minutes)," he told Stan Sport. "We won the second 5-0, and we said, 'Well, if we can win the second 5-0, we can win the next 5-0 and then we're in the game. "And once we got into the game, I just felt that we grew in confidence." Needing something special, Angus Bell delivered first for the Wallabies, the replacement prop's deft short putting Wilson over two minutes into the second half. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii then intercepted a cut-out pass from Springboks flyhalf Manie Libbok to suddenly pull the score back to 22-19. Then the unthinkable happened. The Wallabies hit the lead for the first time when Wright broke free from inside his own half to put Wilson over for his second try to give the Wallabies a shock lead. Playing his first Test since 2022 and a record-breaking 17 years after debuting, O'Connor found Max Jorgensen with a beautiful left-to-right long ball before the winger did the rest in another magical long-range strike for Australia. Turning defence into scintillating attack, Wright sped 80 metres to score the game sealer with five minutes remaining, leaving South African fans silently shell-shocked. It's all over at Ellis Park. Well done to the @wallabies on the victory 🤝#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvAUS — Springboks (@Springboks) August 16, 2025 Schmidt said it was important for the Wallabies to celebrate the remarkable win before shifting focus to next week's second Rugby Championship clash with the Boks in Cape Town. The coach was unsure how serious the injuries to Wilson and Pietsch were. "Pietsch, obviously he did hurt his jaw. We're not sure to what degree at the moment," Schmidt said. "I'd love to think it's just bruising but we're going to have to get a little bit of a look at that in time. "And with Harry as well, he got a bit of a wobble on it but he's feeling a little bit more comfortable now. "So we live in hope."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Captain Wilson scores twice as Australia stun South Africa
Captain and No 8 Harry Wilson scored two tries as Australia staged a remarkable comeback to stun South Africa 38-22 in the 2025 Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg on Saturday. Trailing by 22 points after 19 minutes, the Wallabies scored 38 unanswered points for a first victory over the Springboks in the South African economic capital since 1963. Backs Dylan Pietsch, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright were the other Australian try scorers and veteran James O'Connor converted four. Kurt-Lee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen and captain Siya Kolisi crossed the line for the defending champions. Manie Libbok converted twice and slotted a penalty. Record four-time Rugby World Cup winners South Africa were unstoppable in the early stages on a grey evening at Ellis Park with scrum-half Grant Williams playing a key role. His perfectly weighted box kicks allowed the Springboks to establish an aerial advantage and the power of the forwards had the visitors reeling. When Kolisi crossed for the third try it was hard to imagine what was to follow in the first game of the southern hemisphere championship. The first hint that a stunning revival was imminent came on 29 minutes when Pietsch scored. He was forced to retire injured soon after following a collision with Kolisi. Australia dominated the second half, helped by endless basic errors from South Africa. When Wilson scored his second try on 64 minutes, Australia took a 24-22 lead. The Springboks were let down by a lack of pace and by missed tackles on defence in the closing stages. Jorgensen and Wright took advantage to end a run of seven straight Wallaby losses in Johannesburg. Argentina host New Zealand later on Saturday in Cordoba in the other first round match. dl/pb
