Dragons to part ways with Moses Mbye as Shane Flanagan builds support staff
Shane Flanagan is putting his stamp on the St George Illawarra Dragons - informing one veteran he will not be required in 2024 and reshaping his support staff.
The overhaul of St George-Illawarra under Shane Flanagan has begun.
Identifying the club’s fitness levels as a major contributor to their flagging results, Flanagan has instructed Dragons management to commence negotiations with high performance guru Andrew Gray and NSW State of Origin physiotherapist, Dan Lawson.
Flanagan’s two major staff targets have emerged amid further news that veteran utility Moses Mbye has become the first Dragons player to be told he won’t be retained beyond this season.
In the final season of his current contract at the Dragons, Mbye, 29, has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot in the team since arriving in 2022.
His most recent performance was in round 14 from the interchange bench.
Mbye was overlooked for selection ahead of the Dragons loss to the Warriors on Friday night.
While the Ben Hunt saga is currently consuming the Dragons, Flanagan has also been busy putting the most important pillars of his staff in place.
The negotiations with Gray and Lawson are pivotal to Flanagan transforming the club.
Gray was a key member of the physical performance team for Wayne Bennett when the Dragons won the 2010 premiership and was also in charge of the Sharks training regimen with Flanagan in their premiership season of 2016.
Such is the esteem Gray is held in within the game, he has also worked as the performance manager representative for all 16 clubs on the NRL workloads and balance committee.
Responsible for creating revolutionary GPS tracking data to analyse the workload and performance of athletes, Gray has also previously consulted internationally across multiple codes, including the English Premier League.
Lawson was also part of Flanagan’s medical and performance team when the Sharks won the title in 2016.
The respected physiotherapist left the Dragons after three years under Anthony Griffin to join the Gold Coast Titans with Justin Holbrook this season.
Highly-valued, Lawson was asked to also join the Blues for this year’s series.
The likelihood of incoming Titans coach Des Hasler appointing his own staff should simplify Lawson’s move from the Titans back to the Dragons.
Flanagan has impressed upon the Dragons board that the fitness levels of the players is paramount to their rebuild.
The current Manly assistant coach has put the appointments of Gray and Lawson ahead of appointing his own assistant coaches.
DRAGONS DEMAND A BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR BEN HUNT
- Dean Ritchie
St George Illawarra powerbrokers are locked in an internal dispute over rolling over too easily in the Ben Hunt release negotiations after revelations emerged that the club was considering a player swap with Gold Coast’s Toby Sexton.
Sources with knowledge in and around the club are demanding the Dragons play hardball by seeking either Tino Fa’asuamaleaui or Moeaki Fotuaika – two Gold Coast State of Origin stars - in return for Hunt from next season.
“There needs to be some blood in the water,” said one well-placed source.
Hunt has two-and-a-half seasons remaining on his Saints deal with the player and club to hold crisis talks on Monday over his desire for an immediate release.
Some at the Dragons believe Sexton, being a halfback, is a like-for-like swap but others are adamant Dragons officials must aim higher and insist on Fa’asuamaleaui or Fotuaika.
Gold Coast is unlikely to allow either to leave but at least, according to many at St George Illawarra, it demonstrates the club won’t be passive during negotiations.
Sexton, 22, has played just one NRL game this season.
One Dragons official said seeking Fa’asuamaleaui or Fotuaika would at least make it difficult for Gold Coast in negotiations.
Privately, some at the Dragons want Hunt to enter Monday’s meeting under pressure and not believing he can steamroll the Dragons.
The club’s powerbrokers aren’t at war with each other but there are some wanting the club to be more bullish in negotiations around Hunt.
Incoming Dragons coach Shane Flanagan is renowned for being a tough negotiator and may not just allow Hunt to walk away with securing a big name from the Titans.
Some club powerbrokers continue to claim that they, not Gold Coast or Brisbane, hold the advantage given Hunt has a binding contract until the end of 2025.
Sexton’s contract with Gold Coast has another year to run. He made his NRL debut back in round 19, 2021 against, ironically, St George Illawarra. Titans records show Sexton playing 24 NRL matches.
St George Illawarra has been hypersensitive around Hunt for fear any confrontation could drive the Queensland Origin champion further away.
The club, according to some senior management, now has nothing to lose in negotiations.
Hunt is likely to end up playing the remainder of this season at Brisbane, provided he can secure a release.
He would then sign a two-year deal with coach Des Hasler’s Titans for 2024 and 2025.
Hunt’s position at St George Illawarra has become seemingly untenable.
Even rival NRL clubs are surprised St George hasn’t been more combative in swap talk around Hunt.
One club CEO recalled Melbourne playing hardball over the possible early release of then Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr back in 2021.
The official claimed Saints should show the same resolve given their player is under contract.
ANALYSIS: HOW DRAGONS CAN SPEND $1.7M HUNT CAP HIT TO REBUILD CLUB
- David Riccio
On Monday, incoming St George-Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan will sit down with club captain and halfback Ben Hunt.
The meeting is worth $1.7 million to the Dragons.
That’s the cold reality of the catch-up.
Take all the emotion out of the past six months, and in particularly the last two weeks.
A decision needs to be made that will benefit the Dragons, not Hunt.
And ultimately, that means letting him go from the final two years (2024 and 2025) of his $850,000-season deal.
Like it or not for Dragons fans, this is where the club is at today.
As a business, it makes no sense to keep your highest-paid player at the club, when he has told everyone including his postman, that he’s looking to change his address, expected to be Red Hill, as soon as possible.
We all want to believe that the latest training regimen or the shiniest facilities are what helps win premierships.
Of course, both are crucial.
Yet nothing is more important than managing your salary cap. The Dragons have a $1.7 million opportunity to turn the club around.
Yes, the Dragons can continue playing hardball with Hunt, 33, and reject his overtures for a release.
Or instead, they can use his money to make a major dent on the open market.
One thing we know about Flanagan is, he’s a recruitment coach.
His acquisition to the Sharks of Luke Lewis in 2013 from Penrith, Michael Ennis from the Bulldogs and James Maloney from the Roosters in 2015, changed lives down in the Sutherland Shire.
Now it’s the Dragons turn.
And if the decision is made to let Hunt go, Flanagan will be circling the names below.
Payne Haas
The most damaging front-rower in the game is free to sign with a rival club from November 1.
The 23-year-old is contracted at the Broncos until the end of 2024. Saints need an enforcer in their pack and Haas believes he’s a $1 million prop. It’s money that the Dragons will have.
Joey Manu
The Kiwi Test star is yet to sign with the Roosters beyond the 2024 season.
The Roosters ace has a desire to play fullback.
The Dragons would be mad not to offer Manu a long-term deal while dangling the No. 1 jumper under his nose.
Dylan Edwards
Penrith are in a predicament as they attempt to juggle the rise in salaries of a roster that just keeps winning trophies.
For what he has achieved in the game, Edwards is one of the lowest-paid fullbacks in the game. He could demand $800,000 on the open market.
He would have an immediate impact on how the Dragons play football.
Bradman Best
Have we seriously seen the best of Bradman? Still just 21, the powerful ball-carrier has enormous upside as a footballer.
Best is off-contract at the end of 2024 — the same year that current Dragons centre Moses Suli is off-contract. Zac Lomax is contracted until 2025 with an option in his favour until 2026.
Keaon Koloamatangi
The damaging Rabbitohs backrower is yet to be re-signed beyond 2024 with Souths needing to juggle their cap to also keep Jai Arrow, Campbell Graham, Tevita Tatola and Isaiah Tass.
With hard-running Jayd’n Sua on one side of the backrow and Koloamatangi on the other, the Dragons would prove a formidable force.
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