Dragons' 'Embarrassing' Loss Heaps Pressure on Flanagan as Gutherson Admits Players at Fault
Clint Gutherson has openly admitted that St George Illawarra players are letting under-fire coach Shane Flanagan down, describing their recent 32-0 flogging from North Queensland as "embarrassing". Speaking after Saturday night's devastating loss, Gutherson also declared he would have no issue with the Dragons pursuing Trai Fuller as a potential new fullback for the remainder of the year.
Record-Low Start to the Season
Saturday's defeat has left the Dragons with their worst-ever start to a season, following a winless opening five rounds. Their nine consecutive losses now represent a club-record low, marking a significant downturn for the proud rugby league franchise. While the Dragons were competitive in the opening four games of the season, Saturday night's performance was by far their worst, prompting boos from the Kogarah crowd at both half-time and full-time.
Co-captain Damien Cook and Flanagan both issued apologies to fans in the aftermath. Flanagan had previously admitted on Friday that he needed wins to secure his job, despite believing club bosses had been "rock solid" in their support. The coach appeared dejected in the post-match press conference, vowing not to give up while acknowledging the performance was "not acceptable".
Coaching Uncertainty and Player Accountability
Assistant coach Dean Young is emerging as the likely option to take over if Flanagan does not survive the current slump. Young served an apprenticeship as Dragons caretaker in 2020, providing him with valuable experience. Michael Ennis, also on the Dragons' coaching staff, is considered a remote chance of replacing the sacked Anthony Seibold at Manly next year.
Regardless of the coaching speculation, co-captain Gutherson insisted the fault lies squarely with the players, not Flanagan, ahead of Friday's crucial clash with Manly. "We're letting him down," Gutherson stated. "He does tireless work, Shane. He leaves no stone unturned. Him and Mick and Deano. We're just not doing it."
Gutherson emphasized that the team had every opportunity to perform in the first four weeks but failed to deliver. "And then (Saturday night) we just didn't get a chance to play the footy we wanted to, and you can't do that in the NRL," he added.
On-Field Struggles and Injury Concerns
The Dragons' attack was particularly poor, with Lyhkan King-Togia and Dan Atkinson struggling in the halves, and their last-play options were equally ineffective. Defensively, the team surrendered meekly, forcing Flanagan to admit he must find answers and implement changes early this week.
Gutherson limped from the field at fulltime on Saturday night after pulling up sore in the last set, but he hopes it is only hamstring tightness. However, injuries are the least of the Dragons' worries as they grapple with their form and morale.
"It's embarrassing," Gutherson reiterated. "We train so hard, we are such a proud club, and we want to go out there and do the fans proud, and we're not doing it. We know how proud the fans are, and they have a right to be angry. We're not shying away from that."
Potential Signing and Team Dynamics
Following Saturday night's loss, a News Corp report revealed that the Dragons are attempting to sign Trai Fuller from the Dolphins for the rest of the year. The 28-year-old has impressed whenever given a chance at fullback, though he has played just nine minutes for the Dolphins this year while being stuck behind Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Gutherson expressed openness to the potential signing, stating, "The club can obviously do what they like. I have said openly for 15 years I've been playing that I will play anywhere. I know what I can do to help a team, and I am happy to play anywhere. If they see me playing somewhere else, that's the way it is."
He further clarified, "It's nothing against me; I want to win as much as anyone else. If we can make our team better and there is a player out there, I am all for it." This attitude underscores the team's desperation to turn their season around and address their ongoing struggles on the field.
