Shane Flanagan apologises to halfback Lachlan Ilias after press conference swipe

Shane Flanagan has apologised to new Dragons halfback Lachlan Ilias for a heat-of-the-moment press-conference spray after his side’s disappointing one-point loss to South Sydney.

Shane Flanagan has picked up the phone and apologised to his struggling halfback Lachlan Ilias for his heat-of-the-moment press-conference comments after the loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

As revealed by Phil Rothfield, the apology comes after Flanagan urged people to “make their own assessment” of Ilias as his South Sydney successor, bargain buy Jamie Humphreys, kicked St George Illawarra to the kerb with an against-all-odds win on Saturday.

Already burdened by a mounting injury roll including superstars Cameron Murray and Latrell Mitchell, the Rabbitohs played with just two fresh men on the bench for the final half-hour and still managed to reel in a 12-point deficit against a tiring Dragons.

Played in blistering conditions, Humphreys’ 76th-minute field goal proved the difference in a 25-24 win despite the Dragons scoring five tries to four. Valentine Holmes kicked only two conversions for the hosts.

Humphreys’ clutch moment was in stark contrast to Ilias’ slow start to life in the Red V after a horrific leg injury, giving away a penalty try and struggling to help his team ice a handy lead early in the second half.

Asked about his halfback, Flanagan said: “You were here, weren’t you? You can make your own assessment.”

FLANAGAN PROMISES BRUTAL RESPONSE

David Klemmer, who will join the Dragons this week after his mid-season switch from the Tigers, will be part of the Red V squad for their round four match against the Storm following a bye.

It’s a treacherous assignment for Flanagan’s team after they were outplayed against the Bulldogs in the opening round and then surrendered a game they appeared in complete control of at WIN Stadium on Saturday.

And the premiership-winning coach didn’t mince his words when it came to his side’s performance.

Lachlan Ilias struggled against his former club. Picture: NRL

“It’s not good enough,” he said. “I’m really, really disappointed. It’s not what this team has showed me in the trials or in pre-season training.

“They (South Sydney) were out on their feet and (we were) leading by 12, we could have knocked them out with a bit of effort and energy. We just couldn’t find it and they found it.

“To kick the field goal … I think the ball it hit the ground twice and he thought, ‘I’ll have a shot here’. There was no pressure on him. You don’t deserve to win when you do things like that and let soft tries in.

“You wouldn’t want to be one of my players for the next 10 or 12 days. It’s not going to be pretty.”

BUSTED BUNNIES COP MORE BLOWS

Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney mission 2.0 couldn’t have had a tougher start in terms of personnel, losing captain Murray before a ball had been kicked this season and Mitchell to a serious hamstring injury.

Also missing against the Dragons were Jack Wighton (suspension), Alex Johnston (Achilles), Euan Aitken (pectoral) and Tyrone Munro (collarbone).

So, the last thing the supercoach needed was more injury woes, but that’s exactly what he got.

Back-rowers Jai Arrow (head injury assessment) and Tallis Duncan (hamstring) both failed to finish the match, leaving the visitors with just two fresh men on the bench for the final half-hour.

The winning play as symbolic of much of a match played in sweltering conditions at WIN Stadium on Saturday.

Cody Walker dropped a pass on the last tackle, but the Rabbitohs still had time for Siliva Havili to scoop up the ball and shovel it to Humphreys, who swivelled and banged over the field goal under minimal pressure from the Dragons.

“He’s very confident in himself,” Bennett said of Humphreys. “He doesn’t see anything as a challenge. He’s goalkicking, doing all our long kicks, kicked the field goal today. We haven’t put him under pressure and there’s been no lack of trust or confidence in what he’s doing.”

Originally published as Shane Flanagan apologises to halfback Lachlan Ilias after press conference swipe