NRL 2021: Kyle Flanagan ignored a club directive in fronting emotional press conference
Canterbury officials have hit back at claims they threw axed Kyle Flanagan to the wolves in a press conference on Tuesday by suggesting the halfback’s appearance was all of his own doing.
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Axed Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan ignored a club directive by fronting a press conference that reduced him to tears as he tried to “own” his poor on-field performances.
Canterbury officials have come under fire for allowing Flanagan to take part in an all-in media session on Tuesday and not protecting their young star.
But Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton told News Corp that, following meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Canterbury were set to excuse Flanagan from his 1.30pm media duties.
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They thought it would be too much pressure given he was hooked from the field against St George Illawarra just 48 hours earlier. Rather than hide and be accused of dodging scrutiny, a brave Flanagan told Barrett he wanted to front up and discuss the awkward moment he was replaced.
At the time, Flanagan was not aware that he was being dropped from this weekend’s team to face Canberra in Magic Round.
“In terms of the whole process since Sunday, in consultation with Kyle, we said ‘let’s not do anything in front of the media’ on the back of him being replaced,” Warburton said.
“A number of times, Trent and our media team were in consultation with Kyle about that press conference but Kyle owning it (being benched) was a big part of the message he wanted to get across – that he needed to get back to basics and get some work done to come out of this stronger.
“And that is exactly what we’re backing Kyle to do. He knew exactly what he needed to do. Kyle was very happy to talk. He was happy to own it and go through with it.”
News Corp can also reveal Flanagan remained inside the club’s Belmore headquarters for several hours after Tuesday’s emotional media conference to speak with welfare officers, head coach Trent Barrett and members of the club’s coaching staff.
Given that fallout, shouldn’t the club have stepped in and prevented an upset Flanagan fronting the media?
“The only message I got was that he was very comfortable to front the media,” Warburton said.
“There was a question that hit close to home about his family, which is a huge motivating factor for Kyle, which we love, and everyone saw how he got quite emotional. No-one likes seeing anyone upset.
“He held himself really well – a clear, consistent message that this was just a bump in the road and that he would work really hard. It was Kyle and a collaborative approach to go through with the media.
“Apart from the fact Kyle was in a bit of emotional distress, that was around the driving factors which was family. Kyle will come out if this stronger, full stop.”
Former Bulldogs premiership-winning coach Phil Gould led a chorus of criticism, claiming there “was no need for him to appear at that press conference.”
Pressed on whether he knew Flanagan was going to be dropped before the 1.30pm press conference, Warburton said: “I didn’t know.”
“We’ve got all the support in the world for Kyle, from a welfare perspective. He hung around at Belmore for a couple of hours after that press conference, we were there for him. We’re for the person before the player,” Warburton said.
“We had Trent, welfare people, the coaching team, everyone was there that was part of the day. I know welfare was very much part of it. We are a club that looks after our own. Everyone inside our building is of the utmost importance and Kyle is a big part of that.
“We’ve got three full-time welfare professionals inside our business and we have a couple of others we work with on an external basis. We’ve got to move forward and Kyle speaking with the media was a big part of that.”
Flanagan has struggled this year at Belmore but has promised to continue working on his game and returning a stronger player.
“Like any player, if you finish a game and you need to be a bit more dynamic, you get back to the training field and do that. That is what Kyle is owning completely right now and that’s going to help him get out of it,” Warburton said.
“He isn’t the first halfback to get back to basics and work on his game. Kyle will come out of this way stronger. Many before him have done the same thing. Some have turned into Immortals. I’ve spoken to Kyle today, he has the day off like most of the guys. He just keeps referring to the fact that he’s going to work really hard.”
Flanagan’s emotional vow to bounce back after double axing
- Michael Carayannis
Kyle Flanagan broke down when he spoke about being taken from the field at halftime.
Just hours later he was dumped out of Canterbury’s 17 all together as coach Trent Barrett tries to ignite his struggling side.
Flanagan has had to deal with a struggling Canterbury side as he adjusts in his first season at the club.
That all came to a head at halftime during Canterbury’s loss to St George Illawarra. Barrett pulled the 22-year-old from the field in favour of Lachlan Lewis before Lewis’ injury meant Flanagan was recalled.
Flanagan spoke about his demotion but when he was asked about his dad Shane – the former Cronulla coach – he had to stop to compose himself before speaking again.
“He has been ...” Flanagan began before stopping for 10 seconds to compose himself. “He has been a major part of my career. Having him at home is pretty special.
“Yeah I am (heartbroken). What’s happened the last two years – I want to prove to people I’m a good footy player. I have the football family.”
Flanagan revealed he fractured a rib cartilage in the first half. Despite the injury he was confident he would have a needle and retain his spot in the starting team to play Canberra on Saturday. But just hours later he was axed, with Barrett opting for Brandon Wakeham to partner Jake Averillo in the halves.
Flanagan vowed “not to wave the white flag”.
“It’s hard,” Flanagan said. “No halfback likes to come off when the game is in the balance. But the most disappointing thing is that this club isn’t winning footy games and one thing I have learned in my career is that you have got to win footy games to stay in the business so that is just how it is.
“I have a lot of belief in myself that I am a good footy player and I am ready to go again. I feel like I am quite a tough kid and things don’t faze me too much, so I’ll keep pushing forward and it is just a part of my football career, I imagine.”
Flanagan said adjusting to the struggling Bulldogs has been harder than he anticipated. He tasted finals success last year at the Roosters before being let go at season’s end.
“It probably has (been harder than I anticipated) to be honest,” Flanagan said.
“Coming through the juniors and obviously at the Roosters last year I wasn’t used to losing too many footy games. It is just a bump in the road and I am going to get back to training and I am confident I can get back to form.”
Flanagan said Barrett told him he needed to improve his end of sets.
Teammate Nick Cotric threw his support behind Flanagan.
“Kyle is a good kid,” Cotric said. “That’s footy. Everyone goes through things. Everyone sticks together.”
FLANAGAN NOW FIGHTING FOR RELEVANCE WHEN BURTON ARRIVES
By Dean Ritchie
Canterbury playmaker Kyle Flanagan should be cut from the game-managing halfback spot next season to immediately accommodate the arrival of Panthers star Matt Burton.
That is the blunt assessment from former Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley, who declared: “Matt Burton will be the man Canterbury will be pinning their hopes on – he’s the one they will build everything around.”
While facing an on-field demotion, Flanagan would still play a role at the Bulldogs, according to Kimmorley, who played 46 games at Belmore in 2009 and 2010.
Flanagan was sensationally hooked by coach Trent Barrett at halftime in Sunday’s 32-12 loss to St George Illawarra. Flanagan returned later in the game through an injury to teammate Corey Allen.
Kimmorley, a former NSW and Australian halfback, said Flanagan would have to “completely change his role” once Burton arrived.
“Will Kyle be the man to lead Canterbury into the future? I’d say Matt Burton will be the man they will be pinning their hopes on. I’d want Matt Burton to touch the ball as often as Nathan Cleary does,” Kimmorley said.
“All the people currently at the club, they are fighting to play who is going to play outside Matt Burton next year. Burton is who I think they will build everything around.
“I wouldn’t want Matt Burton being the second receiver of the football, playing second fiddle and waiting for the ball and just playing short side.
“Matt Burton has got to play half, Matt Burton’s got to be the seven at the club when he comes next year based on how great he is going, what we’ve seen from him already, he’s a big kid, he’s a good defender and has great leg speed.
“They have invested in Burton. He has a good left foot kicking game and is a genuine seven. (Josh) Addo-Carr will probably play fullback, (Brent) Naden plays centre, (Nick) Cotric, (Will) Hopoate, (Dallin) Watene-Zelezniak…it will be a great backline.
“It will just depend on who is playing five-eighth outside of Burton.”
Asked should that be Flanagan, Kimmorley said: “Kyle has to be adaptable to play the six role; adaptable to play short-side raids and out the back on some sweeps. Play some smaller football a bit more often, ask some questions and challenge the line.
“That’s the role and it’s going to be really hard because he is the game-managing seven this year but next year he will have to go: ‘Okay, I have to completely change my role.’
“What he shows this year will either hurt or help what his coach does next year. He has to be adaptable and changeable.”
Flanagan’s stats this year are modest, although he is playing in a side running last with just one win from nine games.
Due to some key injuries, Flanagan is expected to retain his place when Canterbury’s side to play Canberra on Saturday afternoon is named as part of the NRL’s Magic Round in Brisbane.
To assist Flanagan’s development, many close to the club believe Canterbury needs a new hooker – possibly Brandon Smith – and front-row, maybe Toby Rudolph.
Flanagan’s father, Shane, did not want to be interviewed for this story while Canterbury legend Terry Lamb preferred not to comment.
Kimmorley pinpointed two areas where Flanagan’s game needed to improve.
“Where does he go from here? He gets the kicking plan off the assistant coach on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, he practices it to the nth degree and puts tackle five finishes to a position where the coach wants the ball to finish and he doesn’t kick the ball on tackle zero over the sideline,” Kimmorley said.
“The other thing would be working harder to try and create some momentum to get further up the field and make the defensive line go backwards.
“The shape looks great but young halfbacks need to learn how to take the ball to the line, isolate defenders, get one-on-one tackles and play on the back of some momentum football rather than out the back, out the back, out the back.
“Sometimes, if you can’t create momentum, as a young halfback, you need to learn how to create momentum.”
Flanagan has also been forced to work with an unsettled spine all season.
“You stand out more because you touch the ball more and you have to finish with the results more. I would think they are all fighting for positions for next year and are now fighting for positions next week,” Kimmorley said.
“In today’s game, with the speed of the play the ball, six again, I think you have to have leg speed, be willing to take the ball to the line and dummy and run, or learn how to create overlaps and play short, front, long, back – a bit of everything. That’s where the quality halves are at the moment.”
‘Some kind of statement’: Where to now for flat Flanagan?
- Adam Lucius
Frustrated Canterbury coach Trent Barrett could give no guarantees about Kyle Flanagan’s immediate playing future after sensationally hooking the underperforming halfback at halftime in the Bulldogs’ embarrassing 32-12 defeat to St George Illawarra at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.
Fed-up with another ineffective performance from his young No.7, Barrett replaced Flanagan with Lachlan Lewis in a bid to get his side going.
Flanagan was given a reprieve midway through the second half when he came back on to replace injured centre Corey Allan, who was stretchered off with a neck injury.
The young half now faces an uncertain future – in the short-term at least – as Barrett looks to get more out of a team anchored at the bottom of the table on the back of a 1-8 start to the season.
“Given where we are on the table we need to make some changes where we see fit (and) what’s in the best interests of the team moving forward,” Barrett said.
“Kyle’s not the only one. There are 17 blokes in the team and we’ve all got different roles to play.
“He will have to (bounce back) – we all have to.
“If they’re not getting the job done then we’ll have to think about making some changes.
“We’re in a bit of a hole (and) we will sit down and address that during the week.”
Canterbury’s growing injury toll is likely to save Flanagan from the axe for the Magic Round clash with Canberra, but is clear Barrett is fast running out of patience.
The Dragons led 6-0 at halftime and cleared out in the second half for their first win in a month.
Flanagan is only nine games into a three-year deal at Belmore, but there must now be a big question mark over where his career goes.
He cut a forlorn figure on the bench as dad and premiership-winning coach Shane watched on from the stands.
Immortal Andrew Johns said: “One of the halves has to step up and take control.
“In the first half they were rudderless. Trent Barrett must be pulling his hair out.”
Parramatta’s best-ever halfback, Peter Sterling, said of Flanagan’s midgame axing: “It’s some kind of statement from the coach.”
St George Illawarra cut loose in the second half, posting five tries against a Canterbury side that fell away alarmingly.
Rookie winger Mat Feagai, whose twin brother Max played on the other flank, scored a try on debut but was carried off late with a lower leg injury.
Junior Amone, promoted from the SG Ball team, also grabbed a four-pointer in his first top grade game.
It was the Dragons’ first win in a month.
Not pretty but they will take it
Fittingly, it was Mother’s Day because this was a mother of a game for the first hour.
The first half featured players dropping high balls after colliding with teammates, simple first-tackle turnovers, sloppy last-tackle options, wonky kicks and a ridiculous Josh McGuire Captain’s Challenge.
The Dragons wore replica jumpers to recognise St George’s 100-year anniversary and it seemed fans would have to wait another century to see a try, so poor was the execution from both teams.
But off the back of a Canterbury mistake – of course – Jack Bird and Matt Dufty combined to remind us this was an NRL game we were watching after 22 tortuous minutes.
Bird cut back towards the posts and found the ever-present Dufty with an inside ball and a clear passage to the line.
Dufty loves scoring a try at this joint, touching down for his 10th in nine games at the venue.
The game then resumed normal transmission and the mistakes again began flowing from both sides.
Referee Ben Cummins will lodge a claim for RSI on Monday morning, so often did he have to signal for a knock-on.
The Dragons can offer up the excuse they were missing a number of players.
And to be fair, their second half was much better on the back of fewer mistakes and greater intent.
Dufty, Bird, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman really stepped up to severely embarrass the Dogs.
“I’m happy with the result but it was a scratchy performance,” Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said.
“We did what we needed to do.”
Originally published as NRL 2021: Kyle Flanagan ignored a club directive in fronting emotional press conference
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