NRL Integrity Unit made aware of social media attacks towards Dragons coach Shane Flanagan
The NRL integrity unit has been alerted to abusive rants directed at the Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and his son in recent weeks after being contacted by St George Illawarra bosses.
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The NRL integrity unit has been alerted to abusive rants directed at the Dragons coach Shane Flanagan and his son in recent weeks after being contacted by St George Illawarra bosses.
Sport Confidential can reveal that the Dragons raised concerns with the NRL after Shane Flanagan was subject to vitriolic attacks by a person claiming to be a Dragons supporter.
The Instagram account involved was subsequently shut down.
The abuse comes as the Dragons prepare for a must-win game against Parramatta on Saturday night at WIN Stadium.
Shane’s son Kyle has been a mainstay in the side this season.
The Dragons have won only five of their 13 games - only one more win than the bottom-placed Gold Coast Titans heading into the weekend.
DA SILVA’S TIGERS FAREWELL
Tallyn Da Silva looks set to make his farewell appearance for the Wests Tigers on Friday night as he closes in on a change of clubs before June 30 - a move that will arm the Tigers with a war chest for next season.
Sport Confidential understands that Da Silva has already held talks with several Sydney clubs including Manly - the Tigers’ opposition at 4 Pines Park - and is expected to meet with Newcastle officials once the Sea Eagles game is out the way.
The Tigers want to keep Da Silva but have prioritised the retention of captain Api Koroisau. As a result, da Silva and his management have made it clear they would like to leave if the right offer is on the table.
That now seems a fait accompli to happen before the June 30 deadline.
In a perfect world, the Tigers would keep both da Silva and Koroisau, but co-captain Jarome Luai acknowledged it was a balancing act as the club chased wins.
“I don’t know if I want to dive too deep into it just for my own mentality and what I need to do for this team,” Luai said.
“But they’re both great assets to this club, so hopefully we can keep them both.
“Like, every club would love to keep all the juniors and all the players that they think will be a superstar in the future.
“But I think this club wants immediate impact and some wins on the board and play finals just off the previous years as well.
“So I know there’s a bit of a balance there.”
That balance is likely to mean that Da Silva leaves in coming days given the amount of interest there is in securing his signature.
Parramatta and Manly headline the list of Sydney clubs chasing Da Silva, who has played 21 games for the Tigers and flashed plenty of potential since making his debut in the NRL two years ago.
His expected departure will mean the Tigers have cash to spend heading into next season given he is believed to be on a deal worth in excess of $400,000 next season.
SHARPE BACK HOME
Newcastle five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe has flown home as he continues his recovery from the devastating injuries he suffered last weekend in Perth.
Sharpe, who lacerated his kidney and ruptured his spleen in a freak accident during the Knights win over the Dolphins at Optus Stadium, jetted back to Newcastle on Wednesday night after undergoing surgery in Perth.
He is expected to make a full recovery, although it will be some time before he plays again.
“Good to have him back,” Knights coach Adam O’Brien said.
“He has a journey ahead of him. I just want to give our guys a wrap. It was a serious situation but they handled it great and looked after him.”
O’Brien admitted he was shocked by the gravity of the situation.
“I watched the tackle a heap of times,” he said.
“It’s hard to see how it happened. Luckily our guys are onto it – Fletcher doesn’t say much and he is tough as nails.
“I don’t like that for anyone – (let alone) one of our own. It was a real shock once I found out the extent of the injury. “
FLASHBACK
Braith Anasta was on the backpage on this day 20 years ago after inspiring his Bulldogs to a win against Manly which ended the Sea Eagles’ 11 consecutive win at Brookvale Oval. The Bulldogs finished 31-12 winners.
TIGER’S CASE ROLLS ON
Jordan Miller’s case against his former club the Wests Tigers is destined to continue after the two parties were unable to find a resolution following an unsuccessful formal settlement conference last Friday.
And he isn’t the only one taking legal action against the Tigers. Miller has taken legal action against the club following their decision to sack him from his contract.
There had been dialogue between the two parties and it had been hoped that they would come to an agreement during arbitration but it was unsuccessful.
Unless there is any change the case will now head to the courts where any dirty laundry will be made public. Miller is being represented by former Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis’ firm Brydens Lawyers. Brydens Lawyers were long-term major sponsors of the Tigers until this year after Hagipantelis was replaced as chairman.
The Tigers claimed that Miller was late to a training session – for the second time – and was subsequently breached leading to his impending sacking.
However, Miller said the most recent breach occurred because of extenuating circumstances relating to a personal nature.
That is not the only court case confronting the Tigers club with former Holman Barnes director Rick Wayde stepping up his action against Western Suburbs Leagues Club Limited. The civil action is due for the NSW Supreme Court on next Friday.
Wayde is challenging the club’s decision to ban him and two other directors which came to a head on December 31.
Wayde successfully put a halt to the club’s plans to fill two vacant board spots after seeking an injunction in March. Tony Andreacchio and David Gilbert were booted from the Holman Barnes Group.
They had planned to replace Wayde and Andreacchio this year but the owners of the Tigers were forced to scrap an election following the injunction.
Wayde, Gilbert and Andreacchio have been banned from stepping foot inside any Holman Barnes Group establishment.
WILLIAMS IN DEMAND
Former Raiders halfback and England captain George Williams has a $400,000 bounty on his head if he is to return to the NRL.
It is understood the Dolphins are the front-runners to land Williams provided he can be released from his Warrington contract. Discussions between the two parties have stepped up in recent weeks to the point where the English club are resigned to losing him at the end of the season.
However, Williams has 12 months left on his contract with Warrington loath to let their marquee man go without some sort of compensation.
A player swap had been mooted with Warrington keen on landing Kodi Nikorima who has impressed in the halves this year. Nikorima has 12 months left on his deal with the Dolphins and the club see him as the ideal bench utility and potential starting half next season.
This has led to the Wolves wanting a transfer fee with an asking price of more than $400,000. The Dolphins have been on the look-out for an experienced half to partner rising star Isaiya Katoa. They were in the market for Daly Cherry-Evans but the Manly skipper will join the Roosters next year if he plays on.
Williams was also considering a move to the Perth Bears which would have enabled him to play out the final season at Warrington. Wolves’ coach Sam Burgess would have brought Williams with him had he landed the head coaching job at the new franchise.
But now Williams seems destined to join the Dolphins provided he can be granted an early exit from his deal.
Williams is expected to again captain England at the end of year Ashes series against Australia. The 30-year-old had success in his only full season in the NRL helping lead Canberra to a preliminary final finish in 2020.
However by the midpoint of the next year he had left the club after falling out with coach Ricky Stuart and the complications of border closures during Covid-19 pandemic made seeing family almost impossible.
RAIDERS CIRCLE COWS WAGON
The Raiders are set to make a move on off-contract Cowboys half Jake Clifford as a potential replacement for Manly bound Jamal Fogarty.
The Raiders have been in the market for an experienced half to join the club next season to compete for a starting spot alongside rising stars Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders.
Canberra have identified Clifford as that type of player. He has largely been out of the Cowboys top squad in recent weeks but has been recalled to the side this weekend.
Clifford lost just one of the first five games he started at halfback this year before he lost his spot in the team. The 27-year-old is in the final season of his second stint at the Cowboys having played at the club between 2018-21.
He had a mixed stint at Newcastle before joining Super League club Hull FC in 2023. He re-joined the Cowboys last year.
Clifford has also been linked with a move back to the Super League with the Cowboys at this stage unlikely to retain his services.
The Raiders have added Clifford’s former Newcastle teammate Jayden Brailey from next season.
MARY A DRAGON AGAIN?
Former St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor could return as a Dragon – this time of the French variety.
McGregor has been linked with the vacant Catalans Dragons position after the club parted ways with long-term coach Steve McNamara.
McGregor hasn’t held a head coaching position since leaving the Dragons midway through 2020.
He spent time at Parramatta as an assistant coach and was due to join the Cowboys last season but at the last minute pulled out for family reasons.
He also spent time as part of the NSW coaching set-up.
McGregor put his hand up to coach Parramatta this season but was overlooked.
He has had a long held desire that he wanted to return as a head coach but his path back to the NRL may be via Super League.
Joel Tomkins is the Catalans interim coach.
The likes of ex-NRL players Luke Keary, Nick Cotric, Reimis Smith, Tevita Pangai Jnr, Tariq Sims, Bayley Sironen and Elliott Whitehead are all part of the squad.
PANTHERS PAY PRICE FOR BUNGLE
Penrith have been fined $10,000 by the NRL following an interchange bungle which left them having 14 players on the field momentarily.
The Panthers have been punished after the mishap which occurred during their 40-12 win against the Roosters in April.
The mistake also cost them two interchange cards during the game. The mishap occurred with about 12 minutes left in the first half while the Panthers had the ball.
Back-rower Scott Sorensen was being checked for a dislocated finger by on field trainer Peter Green. Green indicated to the bench that further assistance was needed with the injury.
It resulted in Sorensen moving towards the sideline where he was assessed by the medical staff. The Panthers bench was at the other end of the field.
While Sorensen remained on the field but close to the sidelines, the Panthers rushed on bench player Izack Tago with the usual starting player relegated to the bench for the clash.
It was the first time Tago had started from the interchange bench.
He ran on for a matter of seconds and played no part in the player. Tago threw his interchange card on the ground instead of handing it to the official which also contributed to the confusion.
The match officials on the sideline quickly realised the mistake and rushed Tago from the field.
HUBNER GETS DREAM DEAL
Lachlan Hubner’s dream first year for the Rabbitohs is set to continue with the forward on the verge of inking a long-term deal with the club.
Hubner and the Rabbitohs are close to agreeing to a new deal which will see him remain at the club until at least the end of 2028.
The 25-year-old joined South Sydney from the Dolphins this year on a two-year deal. The late bloomer only made his NRL debut last year.
This year he has played 12 games and has been a cornerstone of South Sydney’s forward pack.
SPOTTED
Boxing promoter George Rose cruising the Cairns waterfront for crocodiles on a jetski this week in the lead-up to Liam Paro’s impressive return victory on home soil. We also noticed Tim Tszyu sporting a shiner for his recent media appearances including on Wednesday night. Deep in training camp and sparring ahead of his world title rematch. He has flown out big American Mykal Fox to help with his preparation.
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