The solid legacy of Shane Flanagan with the Cronulla Sharks stands as a remarkable point in history. Flanagan, now 58 years of age, is well-regarded for his strategic leadership in 2016 when he led the Sharks towards their sole NRL premiership against Melbourne Storm.
Flanagan is, however, equally notorious for his involvement in the club’s supplement scandal that saw him suspended for a year in 2013, followed by an indefinite deregistration in 2018 for breaching his suspension terms.
After some time away from the sport, Flanagan restored his image by working as an assistant coach for the Dragons and Manly. Finally, in 2024, he returned as a senior head coach for St. George Illawarra.
On Anzac Day, despite the Dragons‘ crushing 60-18 defeat to the Roosters, Flanagan shifted his focus to their upcoming match against his former team, the Sharks, on May 5th.
During the post-match media briefing, Flanagan expressed considerable interest in defeating his old club. This match, he stated, had been on his mind for quite some time.
When questioned about possible sentimental attachments with the Sharks, his reaction was unexpected. He subtly pointed out that the Sharks hadn’t clinched a premiership since his departure. However, he tried to deflect personal attention, insisting that the focus should be on the team and the club.
However, he somewhat contradicted himself afterward by remarking about his past with the Sharks. “I haven’t dwelled on the past, I moved on, coached at Manly, and have contributed towards radio and Fox. Life’s been good,” he said.
Maybe his attention to the upcoming Sharks match was a tactic to distract from the recent devastating defeat by the Roosters. After witnessing the Roosters piling on 10 tries, Flanagan expressed his eagerness for the match to end.
The shock defeat followed victories over the Tigers and Warriors, making it an unexpected setback for the Dragons. Displaying his dismay, Flanagan mentioned, “It’s not representative of the Dragons. What we saw last week is what the Dragons are capable of.”
“We were atrocious,” he admitted, indicating that improvements were mandatory and that the team must learn from this experience.
No doubt, Flanagan’s remarks in anticipation of his anticipated return to Shark Park will be eagerly awaited.