Flanagan breaks silence after father’s Dragons axing

Kyle Flanagan is no stranger to being under the spotlight and the fallout of his father Shane’s exit from the Dragons is another challenge.

Shane was dismissed as head coach after a dismal winless run, with the club only breaking a 15-game losing streak on Sunday against the Broncos.

Flanagan had not spoken to media since his father’s departure in April, but has now opened up on the difficult circumstances at the club.

“It’s definitely been a challenge,” Flanagan said

“The old man’s sort of come out the last couple of weeks and said his part in it. For me, I’ll probably touch on it a bit further down the track.

“There have been a few challenges thrown at the club and different individuals, but you come to work to get better and do your job for the team. That is the way I approached every day - come here, be a better man and go home to my family.

“I’m just focused on doing my absolute best for the team. I love competing with my teammates and helping this team and this club win, that’s what my focus is.”

After short stints with the Sharks and Roosters early in his career, Flanagan spent three years with the Bulldogs before reuniting with his dad at the Red V.

Once his father was axed, Flanagan found himself dropped by interim coach Dean Young, who looked in favour of 20-year-old Kade Reed to don the Red V.

With the rookie now sidelined due to injury, Flanagan is back in the starting side.

Asked where he found the resilience to step back in without hesitation, Flanagan put it down to his lifelong dream.

“I just keep bringing it back to why I started playing the game of rugby league. I love playing,” he said.

“I think it always comes back to why you started and the goals you have within the game. What’s your why? What’s your reason why you want to get out of bed every morning and come down here to Wollongong? That all motivates me to keep playing, keep training hard and keep getting better as a person.

“I’d like to think that I am a goal-driven person, so I have plenty of goals I want to achieve in the game, that is my focus.”

Asked what his why was, Flanagan replied: “My family.”

“I think that’s obviously a why for a lot of footy players. You go there to do the best for your family and represent yourself the best you can.”

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The first win of the season has inspired a new sense of belief within the Dragons camp, with Flanagan determined to claim another victory against Cronulla.

“It is definitely a good feel up at Suncorp, we’ve had a few good results going up there,” he said.

“Something the Dragons haven’t been good at is winning on the road. This club wants to focus on is putting back-to-back performances together.

“The last couple of weeks have been up and down in the way we have played, so backing it up against the Sharks, a local derby, there is no excuse to not turn up.”