'That's why I'm sitting here': Shane Flanagan lifts lid on Dragons exit, pressure of coaching son Kyle

Shane Flanagan has admitted the pressure of a mammoth losing streak, amplified by noise around his son Kyle, ultimately led to his Dragons departure.

The now-former St George Illawarra coach only re-signed with the club last year until the end of 2028, but left last month in the midst of a horror run of form.

Flanagan took over the joint venture in 2024 and while he oversaw some strong periods for the club, things started to fall apart the longer he was at the helm.

READ MORE: Mystery surrounds Origin guns as team change chaos looms

READ MORE: Neale Daniher dies after lengthy MND battle, aged 65

READ MORE: Back-up half called into NSW camp to cover injured Moses

Questions around his coaching methods and relationships with senior players - most notably, former captain Ben Hunt - compiled with performances of his son in the halves increased the pressure on Flanagan to keep his job long-term.

Speaking on Triple M's NRL Daily podcast on Monday, the premiership winner conceded the pressure at the Red V and around Kyle became too much for him to handle.

"That's why I'm sitting here, really it is," Flanagan said.

"There were some other things that made my decision. Not winning footy games was the main one, but obviously the Kyle thing came into it.

"It's tough, but at the time when Kyle came to the club, Ben Hunt was halfback and we had Junior Amone and Jayden Sullivan - we bought Kyle to come there to be that 14.

"Then unfortunately, Ben Hunt left, Junior Amone got suspended and Jayden Sullivan went to the Wests Tigers, we didn't predict all those types of things happening.

"Kyle has been put in that position to play in the halves and for me, he was the best halfback at the club. He competes really hard, he's not that creative - we know that."

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

For clarity, Flanagan Jr. was signed to the club in September 2023 - weeks after Sullivan's release was granted to join the Tigers.

Flanagan then backed his son to remain in the playmaking role next year, despite the recent signings of Luke Metcalf and Scott Drinkwater.

"Next year with Drinkwater coming there, that's exciting for them," he said.

"Kyle will get them around the park if he's in the team and with Metcalf's speed and obviously Drinkwater out the back [results would improve]." 

Flanagan, who has been a career coach for more than two decades, reflected on the start of this season and the winless run the Dragons have found themselves on.

"It's been really difficult - obviously I didn't plan on this happening at all," he said.

"It was really frustrating at the start that we just couldn't get a win. Vegas was a good performance - I thought we competed really hard - then there was a game against Melbourne where we led with 18 minutes to go and they ran over the top of us.

"We seemed to get worse week-in, week-out and I think players lost a lot of confidence.

"I feel that something had to change and we can't get rid of five or six players … the something that had to change was probably me. There was a little bit more to it."

When asked if he would pursue a coaching role with another club, Flanagan admitted he would only take on an assistant position, similar to the one he held with Manly in 2023.

"I've still got more in me, but probably not as a head coach," he said.

"I'd like to get in there at a club where I can assist a coach. I really enjoyed my year at Manly - the stress is so different. This year, the stress of it all just in the end got to me."

The 60-year-old will now be part of the Triple M broadcast team and hinted he would share more details on his exit from Wollongong in the coming weeks.

Dean Young has taken over in an interim capacity, but is yet to earn the permanent head coaching role with Ben Hornby and Brad Arthur also in the mix.