NRL 2024: Dragons coach Shane Flanagan insists St George-Illawarra won’t ‘panic buy’ to fix halves crisis

While fans and commentators have voiced their concerns over the Dragons’ halves depth after the loss of Junior Amone, new coach Shane Flanagan has called for calm.

Shane Flanagan insists the Dragons won’t panic as their halves depth took a massive hit after losing five-eighth Junior Amone. Picture: Julian Andrews

Shane Flanagan says he won’t be pressured into “panic buying” in reaction to the Dragons standing down starting half Junior Amone.

Amid concern from fans and commentators over the depth of options in the halves, the St George-Illawarra coach offered a measured response when discussing his 2024 roster.

“I’ve stated previously that we’ll be one of the more active clubs talking to players as soon as we hit November 1,’’ Flanagan said. “We’ve (management) worked hard to get our salary cap into a position where we can be active and that remains the plan.

“That’s not to say we won’t be in the market to sign a player for 2024.

“But what I’m not going to do is panic buy in reaction to ifs and maybes or uncertainty over a player.’’

Shane Flanagan insists the Dragons won’t panic as their halves depth took a massive hit after losing five-eighth Junior Amone. Picture: Julian Andrews

Out of respect to the judicial process, Flanagan wouldn’t discuss anything to do with Amone’s court case.

Amone was found guilty last Tuesday of arming himself with a hammer and chasing a tradesman off a roof.

Amone, who had pleaded not guilty to assault charges, will be sentenced on December 6 and faces a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

The shock verdict has led many to question the Dragons’ capabilities in 2024’ and in-turn led to calls for Saints to make a multimillion-dollar play for Panthers premiership-winning playmaker Jarome Luai.

The Amone situation is viewed as a disaster by some fans, particularly in the wake of half Jayden Sullivan being released to the Wests Tigers.

Junior Amone was stood down after being found guilty of chasing a tradie off a roof as he wielded a hammer. Picture: NCA Newswire

The most obvious halves pairing for 2024 is veteran Ben Hunt and new recruit Kyle Flanagan, with Jack Bird a third option to play at five-eighth.

Flanagan said he wouldn’t be drawn on potential targets.

However, he confirmed he’s been inundated with calls from managers with halves on their books, but said it was important the club remained steadfast on the long-term vision.

“I want to take the club on a certain trajectory and to do that, it can’t be achieved by reactive buying,’’ Flanagan said. “There’s a strategy and patience involved in that process.

“We’ve seen what can happen at a number of clubs, including ours, when you buy a player, and keeping in mind managers never want to give their player to you for one-year, it’s always two or three years … so it can hurt you in the long run if you buy a player long-term just to fix a short-term problem.

“As I said, we’re working 24/7 on our current roster, while also knowing every player available from November 1. We’re not rushing anything.’’

Flanagan‘s first day back as a head coach will be on November 6.

“I honestly can’t wait,’’ Flanagan said. “That first day back will be a lot of our promising youth players before the majority of our NRL roster begins on November 13.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Dragons coach Shane Flanagan insists St George-Illawarra won’t ‘panic buy’ to fix halves crisis