'Don't be impatient': Shane Flanagan knocks back 'suicidal' calls for Dragons teen to debut

Shane Flanagan has knocked back calls for Kade Reed to debut in Las Vegas, urging supporters not to be "impatient" when it comes to the Dragons youngster.

Reed produced an eye-catching performance in the side's first trial game earlier this month, scoring a try and looking composed in the No.7 jersey.

The teenager received plenty of praise from experts and fans alike after the game, but was only given limited game time in St George Illawarra's second trial.

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In that match, the Dragons lost to a second-string Rabbitohs outfit, mounting immediate pressure on the club's halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson, with many calling for Reed to be blooded in the Las Vegas season opener.

However, during an interview with The Dragons Den podcast, coach Flanagan shut down any chance of the 19-year-old featuring against the Bulldogs.

"There is a lot of people out there that want me to play Kade Reed in Vegas ... that would be suicide for me and for Kade," he said

"No matter what position people play in, I have got to manage their careers and when it is right and when they are physically strong enough.

"To play Kade against [Viliame] Kikau and all of them is just asking for him to lose his confidence. He might be able to handle 80 minutes and do OK ... but you have got to talk about the kid's confidence, belief and having a long career.

"I am going to manage Kade's career and look after him because he does have a career in front of him and when he gets there I don't want to put him in and take him back out again three or four weeks later - he goes in there to stay and start his career.

"Hopefully it is at some stage this year and he gets an opportunity and he will take it because he has been a really good kid for us the last three or four years."

The talented local junior, who came through playing for the Western Suburbs Red Devils in the Illawarra region, is seen as the club's long-term solution in the halves.

And while it will be Atkinson and Flanagan who get the first opportunity, the comments from the coach should instil belief that the Red V are setting the kid up for success.

Flanagan - who is entering his third year in charge - believes Reed needs to develop physically and as a game-manager before getting into the NRL.

"Kade has got some really good qualities and he has just got to work on some other things," the former Sharks premiership winner said.

"He will put some size on over the next 12 months and he has done some pre-seasons with us, but now he is full-time. I think that full-time training in a strength program and I think he is 74kg now and I think he will get up to 80kg by the end of the year.

"He has got to run a team. He has got to feel comfortable to tell some 200-gamers to get out of the way or do this or that. It is a tough job as a halfback and it comes under a microscope and if you don't don't do your job, you are under the microscope.

"He has some work to do, but he will get there. From our perspective Kade has done a good job and we are lucky to have him, but don't be impatient."