The St George Illawarra Dragons are bracing for a major coaching shakeup just days out from their iconic annual Anzac Day clash against the Sydney Roosters, with incumbent head coach Shane Flanagan poised to become the second National Rugby League (NRL) mentor dismissed in 2025 following a catastrophic opening to the season.
Club officials have called an urgent press conference for Thursday morning, slated to be led by chairman Andrew Lancaster and chief executive Tim Watsford, confirming long-circulating speculation that Flanagan’s tenure at the helm of the Red V will come to an abrupt end just eight months after he signed a contract extension promising long-term stability.
Flanagan, who led the Cronulla Sharks to their first and only drought-breaking premiership title a decade ago, has overseen a completely winless run through the opening seven rounds of the 2025 NRL season. The club’s poor form extends even further back, with the Dragons having dropped 11 consecutive matches dating back to the closing stages of the 2024 campaign, effectively eliminating any chance of postseason football this year before the season hit the one-quarter mark.
He follows Manly Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold out the door, who was sacked earlier this season after just three straight losses. In a stunning turn of events for Manly, Seibold’s departure immediately sparked an extraordinary turnaround for the side, leaving long-suffering Dragons fans hopeful that a similar coaching change can reverse the club’s lingering slide down the competition ladder.
Flanagan took over the Dragons role ahead of the 2024 season, and notched a mediocre 19 wins from 56 total matches in charge during his tenure. The club has been plagued by persistent issues with player recruitment and retention for months, a problem that has gutted the side’s attacking power after key representative stars Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax departed the club in recent offseasons.
In August 2024, the organization extended Flanagan’s contract for two additional seasons, releasing a statement that now rings hollow amid the crisis: “This extension reaffirms the club’s commitment to stability, growth, and a long-term vision for success both on and off the field.” That public commitment to long-term planning has now collapsed entirely, as growing fan frustration boiled over after seven straight opening losses.
The Dragons’ current struggles extend far beyond the coaching box, with a litany of on-field and off-field disruptions plaguing the squad through the early rounds. Star second-rower Jaydn Su’A was sent off during the club’s most recent round seven clash, and is staring down a lengthy suspension that will rule him out for multiple weeks. Adding insult to injury, Su’A has already confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season to join rivals Parramatta Eels in 2027.
Other recent on-field struggles have piled up too: star back Valentine Holmes missed 13 tackles in the round seven loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs, young playmaker Daniel Atkinson has failed to register a try assist across his last three appearances, and the club is still uncertain whether experienced utility Clint Gutherson will be able to return to his fullback position once he recovers from a current injury spell.
Off the field, the club has also had to manage growing discontent within its playing ranks. Young forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga’s request for an early release from his contract was rejected earlier this month, prompting the player’s management to leak private internal club emails to the national media in an embarrassing breach of internal confidentiality.
As the club prepares to formally announce Flanagan’s departure ahead of Thursday’s Anzac Day blockbuster, all eyes will be on the Dragons to see who will step in as interim head coach and attempt to revive the proud club’s fading 2025 campaign. More details are expected to emerge following the morning press conference.