Shane Flanagan says his son will fight his way back from demotion

If there is a silver lining in his son Kyle’s demotion, Shane Flanagan won’t have to plot his downfall on Thursday night

Siosiua Taukeiaho, left, and dropped Roosters halfback Kyle Flanagan

Shane Flanagan sent his son Kyle to the Sydney Roosters to get an education. He won’t be second guessing that decision now that Roosters coach Trent Robinson has wielded the axe and given Kyle some time to work on his game.

“He is disappointed, no doubt,” Shane Flanagan said.
“He is very, very disappointed. But one of the reasons I sent Kyle to the Roosters was so he would get good coaching, education and play with good players.
“I can’t all of a sudden say I am upset about it. That is the reason I sent him there. They have made a decision and we have to live with it — I have to live with it and Kyles has to live with it.

“We just get on with it. Kyle will rip in and get his spot back. I don’t think he was playing poorly. I don’t think Robbo ever said that.

“Can he be better in some areas? One hundred per cent. He is 21 years old, this is really his first year in first grade. I have been happy with how he has been going.

“That is the reason I sent him there — to get this education and maybe a bit of hard schooling.”

If there is a silver lining to his son’s demotion — Lachlan Lam will play halfback against St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium on Thursday night — it is that Flanagan won’t have to coach against his nearest and dearest.

He endured that torment earlier this year but he can help plot the Roosters’ downfall in his role as a Dragons assistant coach free from the shackles of family loyalty.

“I don’t have to beat around the bush,” Flanagan said.

The Dragons desperately need a win on Thursday night to keep their season alive. At the same time, Robinson knows his side needs to improve on their recent performances, hence the decision to give Lam an opportunity.

He declined to flush out the details of his decision, but there is a sense that Flanagan will benefit from a rest. He has been a defensive target all year — against the Gold Coast last weekend, he was called on to make 39 tackles.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand with no-ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

All told this season, he has been forced to make nearly 300 tackles. Few halves have been targeted more. At the age of 21, it won’t do Flanagan any harm to take him out of the firing line for a few weeks.

“I thought it was time for Kyle not to play,” Robinson said.
“He can go back and work on things he needs to keep developing. Any player that is playing rugby league, it is a tough school. He is a really tough kid, he is working really hard.

“It is about take it on the chin, stand up and fight hard again. Lachie Lam has been training really well and started to bring some energy to our team.

“I want to give Kyle the chance to take a breath and get some development.”

While Flanagan has been given an enforced rest, captain Boyd Cordner continues to work his way back from a bout of concussion. Robinson indicated he was still some weeks away from a comeback, having already missed a fortnight.

“He has started back training,” Robinson said.
“It was good to see him out on the field yesterday running. He is getting close to a return. There is not long-term concern.

“It is really important that players are really honest about where they are at with this and how they are feeling every day. Boyd has been that.

“We are going to make sure it is the right time. We are not going to rush him back. He hasn’t done contact or anything yet.

“It would be nice in the next couple of weeks for him to increase his training … to keep upping that. We will get a good guide over the next couple of weeks when he will be back.”