NRL 2020: Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan puts Bulldogs to shame
Since the NRL restart, Kyle Flanagan’s individual output of 92 points is more than three rival clubs. Who has the young gun put to shame? And if you think he is finished, think again.
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Sydney Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan has achieved a stunning individual feat that puts Canterbury to shame and the man he replaced, Cooper Cronk, has warned the 21-year old is only just getting started.
Flanagan’s 92-point haul, made up of four tries and 38 goals, has seen him single-handedly outscore the Bulldogs (86 points) over the opening eight rounds of the competition.
But the feat is made even more impressive since the season resumed in late May.
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According to Fox Sports Lab, Flanagan has amassed 82 points in this period, exceeding the entire output of Brisbane (58 points), the Bulldogs (68 points) and St George Illawarra (80 points).
Speaking with Hannah Hollis for Fox League, Cronk joked Flanagan, 21, had been a perfect replacement for “some old washed up has-been that was holding the Roosters back”.
And Cronk said the game’s leading point scorer will only add to his attacking arsenal as he builds on his 17-game career.
“That’s a very interesting stat that he’s outscored the Bulldogs and one that show his skill set in terms of kicking goals but also shows his energy to be around the ball to score tries as well though,” Cronk said.
“A lot of young guys come into this competition and want to go from zero to hundred in their first 10 games and they want to be the best player and all those things.
“But what Kyle has done is he has really built his game around doing the simple things well, a kicking game, a good support game, good organisation and good defence.
“Now hopefully he can start adding some tricks to his kit bag in terms of his running game, his short pass and his combination work.
“Once you set the foundation you can start growing from that. His combination with Luke Keary is ever developing and hopefully he can start adding some combinations with the likes of Angus Crichton, Joey Manu and James Tedesco on the right edge.”
Point-scoring records are nothing new for the Aquinas Colts junior.
In 2017, Flanagan scored 360 points playing for the Sharks in the NYC, the most ever in a Holden Cup season.
Now Penrith coach Ivan Cleary holds the club record for most points at the Roosters. Cleary scored 284 points (13 tries, 116 goals) in 27 games and averaged 10.5 points a game.
Former Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell came close to breaking Cleary’s record last year with a total 273 points (19 tries, 98 goals, 1 field goal) in 25 games for an average of 11.5 points a game.
Flanagan is a remarkable 22 points ahead of South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds in the individual point-scoring race this season.
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Remarkably, since round three Flanagan, who came into 2020 as one of the most under-pressure players of the season, has been averaging 13.7 points per game.
Cronk, a four-time premiership winner, believes Flanagan will develop into an elite NRL halfback because he has an unwavering commitment to succeed.
“There was probably some old washed up has-been that was holding the Roosters back and they got the young kid that has scored a lot of points and done some really good things,” Cronk joked.
“He is a hard worker, he wants success really bad. So when you have those two things together, it’s pretty easy to teach a few skills.”