NRL 2023: Shane Flanagan eyes Luke Thompson and Dean Young as first big targets
Fresh from making an approach to St George Illawarra prodigal son Dean Young to be his assistant, Shane Flanagan has set his sights on his first player target.
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Incoming St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has had a meeting with injured Canterbury prop Luke Thompson about a potential switch to the Dragons next season.
Thompson is keen to remain in the NRL and the Dragons are desperately looking to stiffen their forward stocks next season.
It comes as Zac Lomax spoke with Dragons officials last week and recommitted himself to the club.
Flanagan had a face-to-face meeting with Thompson recently and the club are looking to make a play for the English representative forward.
Thompson is in the final year of a rich $800,000 contract where he has struggled to live up to his hefty price tag at Canterbury.
He was once billed as the best prop in the world when the Bulldogs attracted him from the Super League midway through 2020.
He won’t be at the Bulldogs next season.
Injuries and suspension have restricted him to just 38 games for Canterbury. Thompson is on the comeback trail after a freak foot injury sustained in a training accident in February.
He underwent surgery in March to repair the injury and still holds out of hope of returning to the field at some stage this year.
Thompson is still only 28 and has attracted plenty of interest to return to the Super League but he believes he has unfinished business in the NRL.
The Dragons have been linked to a host of players in recent days including Titans duo David Fifita and Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui as well as PNG hooker Edwin Ipape. Ipape is playing for Leigh in Super League.
One player who will remain at the Dragons is Lomax.
After being given permission to explore the open market, Lomax has told St George Illawarra officials that he intends to play out his rich long-term contract at the club which expires in 2026.
Meanwhile, half Jayden Sullivan may have played his final game of the year after limping from the field with a recurrence of a hamstring injury during Friday’s loss to Canberra.
Sullivan’s short career has been plagued by hamstring problems.
He missed a month in the pre-season after suffering a grade two hamstring injury.
Sullivan missed a large chunk of the 2021 season because of hamstring issues.
His halves partner Talatau Amone is in the midst of his criminal trial.
DEAN YOUNG SET TO RETURN AS FLANNO’S RIGHT HAND MAN
—David Riccio
Shane Flanagan is poised to make his most significant move as Dragons coach, by appointing Dean Young as his assistant.
Young, currently working with Todd Payten at the Cowboys, is in the final stages of negotiations to return to the Red V.
Flanagan had indicated to current interim head coach Ryan Carr there would be a role for him at the Dragons just not as his senior assistant coach.
Those at the club have a high opinion of Carr who still has 12 months left on his contract.
It is understood Carr is exploring other potential opportunities but could still remain at the Dragons next year.
Fellow assistant coach Ben Woolf also has a year left on his deal.
Flanagan’s move to sign Young is an interesting one given Young wanted the top job.
Originally there was a push from the St George side of the board to have Young installed as Flanagan’s assistant with a view to take over from Flanagan when his three year deal expires. However, when Flanagan took on the head coaching position there were no restrictions put in place on his coaching staff.
This appointment has been driven by Flanagan. Young has gone for the head coaching position twice. He missed out on the role originally when they appointed Anthony Griffin and then again when Flanagan was given the job recently.
Flanagan and Young share a strong relationship having worked together in 2020, when the latter was the interim head coach of the Dragons following Paul McGregor’s sacking.
Young then moved from the Dragons to work with Payten at the Cowboys in 2021. The Cowboys were keen to retain Young.
Young’s return to the Dragons would continue Flanagan’s already impressive staff appointments.
Under the direction of Flanagan, Dragons management have signed high performance guru Andrew Gray and NSW State of Origin physiotherapist, Dan Lawson.
Young had a decorated playing career with the Dragons which included the 2010 premiership win. He transitioned to coaching after his retirement where he first led Illawarra’s SG Ball side before co-coaching the under-20s team alongside Ben Hornby.
The switch back to the Dragons allows Young and his family to return to Wollongong.
Flanagan has been busily securing his coaching staff while dealing with the unrest of skipper Ben Hunt. The club are also expected to make a big play to sign Titans duo David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
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