Dragons boss Peter Doust breaks silence on Shane Flanagan, board disunity and more

In his first major interview in years, polarising Dragons boss Peter Doust breaks his silence on recruiting Shane Flanagan, disunity at board level and those famous “Oust Doust” signs.

‘Oust Doust’ banners are part and parcel of Dragons matches.

On the lower ground floor of St George Leagues club, inside the old Down Under bar, where ex-Dragons like Gordie Tallis and Nathan Brown would sip on vodka and orange after a Friday night victory back in the 1990s, sat a gathering of 50 Red-V believers.

With the less fruity bottled water and custard croissants on offer last Friday morning, the Dragons’ most influential decision-makers listened to new coach Shane Flanagan outline his plan to charter St George-Illawarra out of rugby league’s cellar.

The boss of Westpac Banking, Peter King, sat alongside loyal sponsor from Trip-A-Deal, Norm Black, Queensland Origin legend Mark Coyne and former Test cricket captain Mark Taylor.

Listening intently next to them were St George-Illawarra chairman Andrew Lancaster, along with fellow directors Ben Creagh and Martin Newman, of Newmans Motor Group fame.

On the other side of the old nightclub, which has been transformed into an exceptional museum of Dragons history and memorabilia, were fan favourites Ricky Walford, Jason Nightingale, Matthew Elliott and Craig Young.

Yet perhaps the most intriguing face in the room was the figure who has the power to polarise Dragons fans the most, former Dragons CEO of 18 years and current board director, Peter Doust.

New coach Shane Flanagan has been tasked with leading the Dragons back to glory. Picture: Julian Andrews

Doust was widely reported as the greatest stumbling block to Flanagan being appointed head coach to replace Anthony Griffin.

It was believed that Doust had an issue with appointing Flanagan due to his hugely publicised NRL-enforced suspension from the game while coach of the Sharks in 2014.

But, in his first major interview in more than five years, Doust refuted the assertion.

Instead, he explained his belief in Flanagan by comparing him to supercoach Wayne Bennett.

“Wayne was good at networking. His personality was much different in an environment like this (last Friday morning), than he was in the media,” Doust said.

“I remember I used to take him to places and it would stun me with his way of connecting with a wide array of people, from academics to your average Aussie.

“Shane is similar.

“He’s going to make the changes that we need, which can put some sugar on the cake.’’

When asked if the reports were correct that he didn’t want Flanagan at the club, Doust replied: “I don’t know where it comes from, or why it came around.

“I’ve never had any agenda other than to say I have been very impressed with Shane.

“Coaches have a lot of responsibility for their clubs and I listened to the fact that he’s learned a lot in the time that he was away from the game.

“That weighs heavily on me, I don’t think you can hold people overly responsible for the past.

“Listening to him, you know he’s the right person (for the Dragons).

“He’s taken time to understand what the club has been and can be.

“I’m very impressed and he’s got our (board) support.’’

Peter Doust has the power to polarise Dragons fans.

A relaxed Doust also laughed off the annual call for his head by Dragons fans via their infamous “Oust Doust” signs that adorn the WIN Stadium and Jubilee Oval hill.

“It’s part of the theatre of the game,’’ Doust smiled.

“We’ve all had signs. There’s been “Down with Brown”, “Hail Mary” … our supporters have just got right into that vernacular and it did add theatre to the game.

“I’ll never forget I had a visit here from St Helens CEO Mike Rush at one stage.
“They (fans) put the ‘Oust Doust’ sign on the hill and he said: “You can’t let that go on. Get someone to take it down.’’

“Other people have done that, but I don’t see it that way.

“It’s part of the theatre of the game and part of our brand that we excite that sort of emotion.

“I have always said in my time here, you can’t be a major club with that sort of brand support and then try and avoid the theatre that comes with it.’’

’Oust Doust’ signs are part of the theatre of the game, according to Dragons boss Peter Doust. Picture: Getty Images

Doust said the board was supportive of Flanagan’s decision to train once a week at Kogarah, his desire to recruit elite talent, and that the board had already invested financially in the head coach’s plan for success with the transformation of the WIN Stadium gym.

“He (Flanagan) understands we’ve got some real talent in the club,’’ Doust said.

“We need some players to add to it and he’s got the gravitas to bring it together, so we’re very confident.

“We’ve already supported him in his desire to change our training structure in Wollongong.

“We’ve made financial assistance for that, with the purchase of equipment. Bringing in (head of high performance duo) Andrew Gray and Dan Lawson is very important in addressing the obvious weakness we had in strength and speed.

Shane Flanagan has outlined his plan for success at the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s an investment in people and facilities to allow him (Flanagan) to do his utmost to take the club forward.’’

Pointing to the many board directors in the room, Doust added that persistent claims that there was a divide between the Illawarra and St George arms of the business was disingenuous.

”We’ve been misinterpreted there too,’’ Doust said.

“We’ve (board) had some debates over this, that and the other, which is appropriate.

“But we’re on the one page, absolutely.

“It’s frustrating for people to talk about us in that context (divided) because we’re a long-term brand in the game and we’re going to continue to be a long-term brand in the future.’’

Originally published as Dragons boss Peter Doust breaks silence on Shane Flanagan, board disunity and more