The situation surrounding the St George Illawarra Dragons has taken a confusing turn, leading to the cancellation of Tuesday's training session. This decision follows the abrupt departure of Shane Flanagan, who will leave the club immediately, just days ahead of the much-anticipated Anzac Day game against the Sydney Roosters.
The announcement of Flanagan's exit was made during a Monday morning press briefing, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the team. As of now, there is no interim coach appointed, leaving the squad with little time to prepare for one of the key matches in the NRL calendar.
Players arrived at the Dragons' revamped headquarters in Wollongong on Monday for an anticipated training session. They managed to complete their usual recovery and gym routines, but a scheduled video review of their recent defeat to South Sydney was sidelined due to the coaching shakeup.
The turmoil deepened by Monday afternoon, as the club decided to forgo all field activities on Tuesday.
The Dragons' board is set to choose an interim head coach, with a resolution anticipated by Tuesday noon after urgent discussions.
As per The Daily Telegraph, internal discord regarding this appointment remains, particularly with some board members hesitant to promote current assistant coach Dean Young to the interim position.
If Young is passed up, the role may go to fellow assistant Mick Ennis or NSW Cup coach Willie Talau, both of whom are considered for a short-term fix.
Mark Riddell, a former Dragons hooker now involved in the club's NRLW program, is also suggested as a temporary candidate. Another name in the mix is Ben Hornby, a former teammate of Young's who might inject new energy while respecting the club's culture.
Amid the chaos, there is said to be significant backing for Young from both the players and the St George faction of the club, with reports indicating that players privately prefer him for the role, according to The Daily Telegraph.