Flanagan has addressed the disorganized situation at the club as preparations begin for the new season.
Clint Gutherson acknowledges that he plays a key role in supporting the underperforming halves duo of Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias at the Dragons this season. Meanwhile, the coach admits that the ongoing saga involving disgruntled prop Francis Molo—who has controversially skipped training during the off-season—is an utter mess with no clear solution.
The Dragons will get their first real test of the revamped halves pairing of Flanagan and Ilias in competitive action this weekend, as they take on the Roosters in Sunday’s Pre-Season Challenge. Ilias was brought in to replace former captain and representative star Ben Hunt, who moved to the Broncos after a seven-year spell with the club.
Ilias endured a season to forget with the Rabbitohs in 2024 after being dropped from the first grade by his previous coach, Jason Demetriou, and then suffering a severe leg injury that dashed his hopes of returning to the NRL. Once touted as the long-term successor to Adam Reynolds at number 7 for Souths, he was eventually allowed to leave the club and now hopes to revive his career with the Dragons.
The 24-year-old aims to form a potent halves combination with playmaker Flanagan, who has also faced his share of criticism during an eight-year NRL career across four different clubs. Speaking after being named Dragons co-captain alongside new recruit Damien Cook, former Eels skipper Gutherson emphasized that one of his main responsibilities will be to reassure the halves duo that they belong at the NRL level.
“You have to show them that you believe in them and trust them,” Gutherson told AAP. “That’s what the experienced players do—they bring the best out of the younger ones. It was evident in our scrimmage against Manly last week, where our belief in both halves shone through. It’s all about building on our team’s vision and allowing them to take control.”
He added, “It’s never going to be perfect… The halves are among the most scrutinized positions on the field, and critics are quick to judge when success isn’t immediate. I think Lachie was doing a fantastic job at Souths, and they might have been looking to blame him when things went wrong; then his injury just made matters worse. As for Kyle, people are eager to see him fail, but as a captain and leader, you need to instill confidence in what they’re doing—that’s something we’ve worked very hard on.”
Gutherson and Cook have been named at fullback and hooker, respectively, in a strong Dragons squad for Sunday’s pre-season game against the Roosters. The former Parramatta fan favorite noted that both players “have a point to prove” after being released by their previous clubs—with Cook allowed to depart the Rabbitohs under veteran coach Wayne Bennett. Additionally, Valentine Holmes, another new recruit, was let go early by the Cowboys and is set to start at center in Sunday’s match.
Shane Flanagan on the Francis Molo Saga: “A Total Mess”
The Dragons’ preparations for the new season have been further complicated by Molo’s dramatic standoff with the club and his decision not to return to training since an incident last month. Molo, one of the team’s top middle forwards, reportedly had a disagreement with a member of the coaching staff and has not been seen at the club since.
Although the club bolstered their squad by signing Emre Guler from the Raiders, Molo appears to be pushing for an early release from his contract. Coach Shane Flanagan admits that he isn’t sure if the prop will even feature this season, describing the entire situation as a “total mess.”
“I met with the NRL to assess where we stand with the salary cap and there were a few issues we needed to resolve with our roster,” the Dragons coach told News Corp. “We are currently navigating the legal process regarding his contract—it’s a legal minefield. Frank is on sick leave until his allotted days run out, and beyond that, I honestly have no idea what will happen. We might not get him back this season, who knows.”
Through these ongoing challenges, it’s clear that the club’s management and coaching staff face a tough road ahead in getting their squad into top form for the new season.
