What’s the Buzz: How NRL ban cost Shane Flanagan $3 million

Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has spoken out the toughest period of his life, revealing the heavy financial toll of his NRL deregistration.

Shane Flanagan was forced to pick up work as a labourer after being deregistered from the NRL in 2018. Picture: Supplied.

For those who don’t believe Shane Flanagan has been sufficiently penalised for past indiscretions, they should consider the financial impact of four years on the sidelines.

It probably cost him around $3 million, with the average wage of an NRL head coach being $750,000 a season.

At one stage he took on labouring jobs to pay the mortgage.

When first deregistered in 2018, there was no media work for him at Fox Sports or 2GB. There was no assistant coaching role at Manly or a salary cap management role at the Dragons.

He had no income but a family to feed and bills to pay.

The 2016 premiership-winning coach went out looking for work.

He did labouring jobs for Roscoe Signs, a Shire company run by his mate Ian Ross.

An NRL premiership-winning coach now bringing home $1500 a week, or a bit more with some overtime.

Shane Flanagan was forced to pick up work as a labourer after being deregistered from the NRL in 2018. Picture: Supplied.

“He worked bloody hard,” Ross said. “And we loved having him around.”

Flanagan would turn up each day as one of the boys in his Hi-Vis shirt and hard hat.

He is now speaking for the first time about those early days of the suspension.

“It was the toughest period of my life,” he said.

“I was in a bad place but luckily I had strong family and friends around me.”

Gradually he got mentally stronger and his confidence back.

“I just said to myself ‘this isn’t who I am, I am a leader and a coach’ and I got started in rebuilding my career,” Flanagan said.

“I helped out with kids at junior clubs in the Shire a few nights a week.

“Then I became the head coach for Macedonia. Just small but enjoyable steps.

“Then the World Cup with PNG as an assistant. It was a fantastic experience.”

Shane Flanagan will remain as a Sea Eagles assistant coach for the rest of the season before taking over at the Dragons in 2024. Picture: Getty Images.

Flanagan eased his way back into the rugby league spotlight via the media.

“I’m very grateful to Fox Sports and 2GB for the opportunity,” he said.

“It was challenging and definitely got me uncomfortable which is a good thing.”

Now he’s fully focused on finishing the job at Manly before taking on one of the toughest tasks in rugby league – the head coaching role at St George Illawarra.

It’s a long way from a day’s labouring on a building site.

“I can’t wait to get back into it but there’s still a job to do at Manly,” he said.

“I get on well with Seibs (coach Anthony Seibold) and all the players at Manly. They welcomed me from day one and it’s been a pleasure working alongside them.

“I’m fully committed for the remainder of the season while working in my spare time on setting up some structures at the Dragons for next year.”

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: How NRL ban cost Shane Flanagan $3 million