‘Torture for his mother’: Stuart launches passionate defence of maligned Dragons half Flanagan

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has labelled criticism of Kyle Flanagan a “disgrace” and said the ongoing scrutiny of the maligned Dragons halfback would be “torture for his mother”.

The Raiders are on track for their first minor premiership since 1990 after recording a seventh straight win, this time a 28-24 thriller at home against St George Illawarra. Kaeo Weekes was the star with three tries, a try assist and 284 running metres, but the attention turned to the treatment of Flanagan in Stuart’s post-match presser.

“I think it’s a disgrace how you guys in the media are just absolutely bashing the kid publicly,” Stuart said.

“Honestly, I’ve got a son playing [Jed] and that’s my biggest fear. You people. Not him, but the media.

“The way [Flanagan] has been portrayed in the media at the moment, that poor kid. I went up to him and I grabbed him after the game and took him aside and spoke to him.

“I’ve known him since he’s been a little boy. He was the lead tonight, he led the charge in regards to getting that team back into that game.

“I think it’s a disgrace what his so-called supporters, the so-called Dragon supporters, the social media, the bullshit that he has to listen to and cop. It’s something I just don’t like.

“He’s a better football player than he’s been given credit for. The way that boy has handled that from a mental point of view to be able to turn up every week; and he said, I’m tough enough, I’ll handle it.

“I know he is, but it’s awful. He led the charge for that team and they nearly came back on the back of him winning that game.”

Dragons half Kyle Flanagan.Credit: Getty Images

Flanagan’s father, Dragons coach Shane, and Stuart have built a bond after coaching together at several clubs. The Raiders coach felt bashing Kyle had become sport for some fans and sections of the media.

“It becomes a game for the media reporting what social media says,” Stuart said.

“You gotta have a look at some of these people who are actually.

“It’d be torture for his mother. I know his old man will handle it, but it would be torture for his mother and his sisters.

“You imagine if it was one of yours. That’s when it becomes real.”

When Canberra last won the minor premiership way back in 1990, with Ricky Stuart at the helm, they went on to win the title.

History may just be repeating.

Another seventh straight win, this time a 28-24 thriller at home against St George Illawarra, has a team many tipped to run last primed to finish first.

The beauty of this Canberra side is that there are so many contributors every week, but the standout on this occasion was Kaeo Weekes. The fullback with the flashing mullet scored three tries, including two length-of-the-field efforts, that sparked fresh debate about the identity of the NRL’s fastest man. There was also a try assist, an alley-oop for Xavier Savage, to add another highlight to a game full of them.

It was as good a performance as any player has submitted this season.

Kaeo Weekes leaves a Rooster defender clutching at thin air.Credit: Getty Images

The Raiders didn’t have it all their own way. On numerous occasions, they threatened to pull away against an injury-ravaged opponent. Yet the Dragons threatened to steal it at the death.

Perhaps they should have. Tyrell Sloan scored two tries, but should have finished with a third. The recalled winger ran onto a Moses Suli pass that was deemed forward. It’s a moment the match officials may want to have over again.

“It’s lucky the rules are changing around [what can be said at] press conferences because I’d be paying a fine,” said Dragons coach Shane Flanagan.

“Everyone knows what was there. It’s tough.

“When you’re a side flying high like the Raiders, you probably see that they get the bounce of the ball and they deserve it, because they’re at the top of the table.

“When you’re where we are at, in the middle of the table, sometimes you feel you just don’t get the rub of the green sometimes.

“It’s a tough one, in the end that’s the difference.”

It was a match that had everything. Jamal Fogarty hoisted one of the greatest spiral bombs of them all, one too good even for the ever-reliable Clint Gutherson. David Klemmer was sin-binned for a high shot with just 37 seconds left. And then there was Weekes.

His greatest trick was picking up dribbling ball at ankle height, while travelling at top speed, and then racing the length of the field just before half-time. That blow, as well as another Raiders try just after the resumption, proved the difference.

“A bit sore, but two points makes it feel a bit better,” Weekes told Fox League after running for 284 metres.

“It was a team performance back at home, we really needed that win going into the bye …

“I started a bit rough at the start of the season, but [coach Ricky Stuart] still put the confidence in me to go out there and do my job.

“So did the boys. We love turning up for each other.”

That’s full-time in the nation’s capital, where the Raiders have escaped with a 28-24 victory against the Dragons as David Klemmer was sent to the bin in the final 37 seconds of the match.

The Red V certainly gave the competition leaders a run for their money, with second half tries for Jaydn Su’A, Tyrell Sloan and Kyla Flanagan keeping the Dragons in touch with the Raiders after Kaeo Weekes scored a hat trick.

But Canberra had done enough in the end, despite the best efforts of the Dragons in the dying minutes of the match.

That’s seven straight wins for the Raiders, who are now two points clear of the Bulldogs at the top of the table.

Full-time: Raiders 28, Dragons 24

Don’t count the Dragons out just yet, they’re turning up the heat.

Tyrell Sloan makes a line break up the right edge, he kicks the ball back in field as Ethan Strange takes him to ground, and Kyle Flanagan beats Kaeo Weekes to the ball and scores.

Flanagan converts and the Dragons are just four points behind Canberra.

Raiders 28, Dragons 24 with six minutes to go

The Dragons aren’t giving up that easily, and it’s nice to see the team still has some fight left in them.

Clint Gutherson sees space behind the Raiders defensive line, and he puts a kick in for Tyrell Sloan on the edge.

Sloan has speed to burn, and he chases the ball down to score and keep the Dragons in tough with their competitors.

So...it’s not just the Raiders who can score glamorous tries.

Raiders 28, Dragons 18 with 13 minutes to go

Keao Weekes beats Damien Cook, he beats Lykhan King-Togia, Jack De Belin, Clint Gutherson and Viliami Fifita.

Despite the best efforts of Jacob Liddle with the ankle tap, Weekes gets past him tooc, and he goes across again.

That’s a third try for Weekes, who is absolutely unstoppable in Canberra tonight.

Raiders 28, Dragons 12 with 18 minutes to go

Jaydn Su’A finally gets one.

It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t even particularly clever, but it’s four points for the Dragons nonetheless.

It’s Su’A who puts the initial grubber in. Jed Stuart can’t clean up the ball, Ethan Strange can’t clean up the ball, and Su’A does a Steven Bradbury and waltzes into the in-goal and plants the ball down after every other man falls.

That’s a much-needed try for the Dragons. It keeps them in the contest.

Raiders 24, Dragons 12 with 20 minutes to go

If I’m Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, the alarm bells are going off right about now.

We’re nine minutes into this second half, and the Raiders are in for the second try of the half.

Once again Jamal Fogarty sends up the ball, but this time Clint Gutherson and Tyrell Sloan collide in the air and drop the ball – friendly fire.

It’s Canberra who benefit from the Dragons error, with Morgan Smithies picking up the ball and scoring.

I repeat: the Raiders are running away with this one.

Raiders 24, Dragons 6 with 30 minutes to go