Where and when the Flanagan era will start at the Dragons
The Charity Shield is locked in at a new venue for the first time, while the Dragons still plan to return to Mudgee. Shane Flanagan explains how he plans to treat the pre-season fixtures.
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Kogarah Oval is set to host its first Charity Shield clash in what will also double as the beginning of the Shane Flanagan era at the Dragons.
St George Illawarra and South Sydney will play the annual pre-season fixture on Saturday, February 17 with WIN Jubilee Stadium now the most likely venue. The Charity Shield has never been played at the Dragons’ Sydney base since its inception in 1982.
The traditional clash has been played at Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee since 2018. But with South Sydney being part of the historic double header in Las Vegas, a shift to Sydney was needed.
The Rabbitohs are due to fly out to the US a day after the Charity Shield.
Flanagan said he was unsure yet how he would approach the fixture.
“It’s a good opportunity to see what you did in the off-season months,” Flanagan said. “It’s a bit too far away for me to say if I will be trotting out the Ben Hunt’s or Zac Lomax’s and those types of players. I am not sure.”
Flanagan joins a rare list of people who have played and will now coach in a Charity Shield.
“It’s great,” Flanagan said. “Souths will have a different approach because they are heading to the US so I am not sure how they will treat the game.”
It could be a chance for Flanagan to unveil some of his new signings including son Kyle and ex-Rabbitoh Hame Sele who returns to the Dragons. Kyle is expected to get first shot to partner Hunt in the halves.
The Dragons have won just one of the past 11 Charity Shield clashes.
The Dragons still want to play a pre-season fixture in Mudgee and are close to confirming their second trial match to be played at the venue a week after the Charity Shield.
Meanwhile, the Dragons returned to training on Thursday with a host of senior players including Lomax, Jayden Su’a, Blake Lawrie and Ben Murdoch-Masila and Francis Molo starting their pre-season earlier than expected.
Originally published as Where and when the Flanagan era will start at the Dragons
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