‘I’ve had enough’: Dragons coach Shane Flanagan walks out after ‘disgraceful’ scenes

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has cut his press conference short after slamming his own side after they left their finals hopes in tatters.

The St George Illawarra Dragons’ coach Shane Flanagan has walked out on his press conference after three minutes, saying he’d “had enough” after his side’s finals hopes were left in tatters.

The Dragons almost pulled off the greatest comeback in NRL history, but coach Flanagan had nothing good to say.

The last-placed Eels stunned the Dragons, leading 44-12 with just over 10 minutes to go when the game was flipped on its head.

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An incredible five tries in the final 10 minutes left the Dragons just a try short from the biggest comeback in NRL history.

The biggest successful comeback in NRL history is 26 points — the Dragons had scored 28 in just 10 minutes.

But while the Dragons almost pulled off the most incredible result, Flanagan put his side in its place.

“We can’t get confused, only getting beat by four points — it was a disgraceful first half,” Flanagan said. “I apologise to the Dragons’ fans, sponsors, everyone. It was just not good enough.

“I’ve got to take ownership for that, it was just not good enough for the Red V jersey. That first 40 minutes was just not acceptable.”

The Dragons have blown it. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Asked if it was more frustrating that the Dragons shot themselves in the foot, Flanagan said: “Yeah, exactly.

“We were terrible, absolutely terrible. Looked like our first day together.”

While the final 10 minutes completely changed the game as the Dragons ran in five unanswered tries to almost pull off the most incredible comeback in NRL history, Flanagan said it didn’t hide the fact the performance was “unacceptable”.

“The first half wasn’t acceptable for this jersey, and we need to be accountable for it,” Flanagan said. “The score in the end, it gave us hope ‘you only got beat by four’ — nah, I’m not going to cop that.”

Flanagan again apologised but said to fans “stick with us”.

At halftime, Flanagan said he tried to get his players to put the half behind them.

He said “I thought we could still win at halftime” despite being down 26-6 after a deplorable opening 40 minutes.

Three minutes after the break, it was 36-6, leaving the Dragons’ hopes — and season — in ruins after conceding two more tries.

It was clear Flanagan’s patience was running low when he was asked if the side was looking for to make any changes for the final game of the season.

“Unless they go to the local A-grade to get some players, I won’t be making any changes,” he said.

“I don’t want to be rude, but I’ve had enough,” Flanagan said as he got up and left the press conference.

"I've had enough". Photo: Fox Sports

Entering the penultimate round of the season, the Dragons needed to beat the Eels and Raiders, both who were below them on the ladder, to book their place in the finals.

The result means the Dragons will remain on 28 competition points and will now rely on results going their way as the four teams on 26 — the Broncos, Dolphins, Raiders and Knights — are all still to play in round 26.

With the Broncos and Dolphins playing in the 5.30pm Saturday game, the winner of which leaps over the Dragons into the eight.

The Knights and Raiders could also push ahead with matches against the Titans and Roosters respectively to come on Sunday and a far superior points differential to the Dragons.

While it looked like it would be essentially a last round playoff against the Raiders for the Dragons to make the finals, St George Illawarra look like they’ll now have to rely on results to go their way as four teams could be on 28 points heading into the final round and the Dragons’ points differential is at -124. In the chasing group, only the Raiders’ is worse on -131, although they have a game in hand.

Captain Ben Hunt was almost lost for words, calling his own performance “unacceptable”, adding the Dragons were “not up to NRL standard”.

Originally published as ‘I’ve had enough’: Dragons coach Shane Flanagan walks out after ‘disgraceful’ scenes