Shane Flanagan Dragons controversy : In the same week, speculation swirled around the Roosters losing interest in Daly Cherry-Evans and growing pressure on Shane Flanagan, with suggestions his coaching future could hinge on dropping his own son. Together, these developments have intensified the already volatile situation surrounding NRL’s halves.
It feels like something major is about to erupt.
Cherry-Evans’ departure from Manly has dominated headlines ever since he appeared on Nine’s 100% Footy back in March and confirmed the rumours that he would be leaving the club he has captained since 2017.
From that point on, it seemed more likely than not that the 36-year-old would land at the Roosters. But as his performance has declined—mirroring his recent omission from the Maroons—the once-strong connection between the star halfback, a 2011 premiership winner, and the Bondi glamour club has dwindled to mere traces.
Roosters boss Nick Politis has long been known as a man who stands by his word, and there’s a strong belief that, at the very least, a handshake deal with Cherry-Evans is already in place.
Cherry-Evans’ Roosters Move Set to Shake Up NRL Halves Market
If that’s the case, it’s still likely we’ll see an official announcement before season’s end confirming DCE’s move to Bondi—a deal reminiscent of the Cooper Cronk signing that helped the Roosters secure back-to-back premierships in 2018 and 2019.
That would place a 37-year-old Cherry-Evans in a Roosters No. 7 or No. 6 jersey for at least the 2026 season, possibly even extending into 2027. Despite his injury setbacks, Sam Walker remains the club’s most valuable player under 25, making him the ideal partner in the halves for a side looking to claim one more title before James Tedesco retires or heads overseas to the Super League.
Which brings us to the Dragons—alongside the Eels, they have one of the most unsettled spines heading into next season and beyond. Flanagan’s side currently sits 12th on the ladder and, heading into the bye, finds itself in a similar pressure-cooker position as the Sea Eagles.
They’ll host the Eels in Wollongong next Saturday, and a loss to one of the few teams ranked below them could see the pressure on Flanagan intensify dramatically.
Much of that stems from the pressure Flanagan created by signing his son Kyle just three months after taking charge of the Dragons, and then doubling down by extending his contract through 2027 late last year.
This week, Coach Flanagan rightly defended his son, saying criticism of Kyle amid the Dragons’ slide was misdirected. While that argument may have merit, it arguably misses the bigger picture.
Shane Flanagan Faces Backlash Over Son Kyle Amid Dragons’ Struggles
To be a team that consistently contends for finals, you must have a top-tier halfback—usually wearing the No. 7 jersey—who ranks among your best players.
Take last year’s finalists as examples: Panthers had Nathan Cleary; Storm, Jahrome Hughes; Roosters, Sam Walker; Sharks, Nicho Hynes; Cowboys relied heavily on Tom Dearden (technically at No. 6 but clearly their main playmaker); Sea Eagles had Daly Cherry-Evans; Knights leaned on Phoenix Crossland; and the Bulldogs had Toby Sexton.
Now, Sexton may not have been among the Bulldogs’ standouts, slightly weakening the argument. However, Cameron Ciraldo’s system is an outlier—he’s structured a game plan where the halfback plays a lesser attacking role. That’s not the case with Flanagan’s Dragons.
As for Crossland, while he might seem like an anomaly, he had a breakout year in 2023, frequently earning praise and eventually earning selection for New Zealand three times in 2024.
Recognizing the critical role of a quality half, Flanagan still oversaw a roster overhaul that facilitated Ben Hunt’s departure and left his son Kyle Flanagan, along with another recycled option in Lachlan Ilias, holding massive responsibility.
Whether either of them is capable of leading a successful NRL side remains uncertain—but choosing them as the starting halves to open the season always looked risky. Ilias has already felt the consequences, while Kyle Flanagan has become an obvious lightning rod for criticism—largely because he’s the coach’s son.
NRL Coaching Futures and Halves Pressure Intensify as Season Hits Boiling Point
And that’s exactly the issue. If Kyle Flanagan were being picked as a starting half by any coach other than his father, the narrative wouldn’t carry nearly as much weight. But with Shane Flanagan making the call, the shadow of nepotism looms large—a perception that won’t disappear unless the Dragons start winning or the coach stops selecting his son.
Perception, at times, matters more than reality—a point Gorden Tallis emphasized on Triple M on Sunday.
What’s going to happen is it’ll come down to his job or Kyle’s,” Tallis said.
He can keep picking him, but that decision might cost him his role in the end. That’s the way it goes—unless you’re coaching someone like Nathan Cleary and you’re Ivan, it’s an incredibly tough situation.
I saw it with Brad Arthur and his son getting booed—it eventually led to his exit. Coaching your son at this level, when results aren’t coming, is a near-impossible task.
It’s talk like this that could spark changes at the Dragons. And with a punishing July fixture list—an away clash in Canberra, a home game against the resurgent Roosters, followed by trips to face the Bulldogs and Cowboys—it would be a major surprise if something significant hasn’t shifted by August.
Which brings the spotlight back to Cherry-Evans and his likely arrival at the Roosters—a move that will almost certainly squeeze out either Sandon Smith, Hugo Savala, or both. Especially with prodigious talent Toby Rodwell locked in long-term, seemingly being groomed to partner Sam Walker once the Cherry-Evans chapter closes.
While the Eels still stand out as the most logical destination for any emerging halves talent seeking a regular spot in first grade, the Dragons are starting to resemble a club on the brink of crisis. They may soon be forced to admit they lack the playmaking strength needed to seriously contend for the finals—potentially prompting a more aggressive approach in the player market.
That moment of reckoning could coincide with the availability of promising Roosters prospects, and potentially Toby Sexton—soon to be released by the Bulldogs—who could become hot commodities if they’re granted exits following Cherry-Evans’ arrival.
And if Gorden Tallis’ blunt assessment holds true, then the real question becomes: who’s more expendable—a divisive half or a coach with a premiership pedigree?
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