It would be an understatement to say that the St George Illawarra Dragons are facing significant challenges.
On a wet evening at Kogarah, the team endured their 11th consecutive loss for the 2026 season, falling to the New Zealand Warriors.
Of the roughly 8,700 attendees, it was apparent that a considerable number were Warriors supporters, leaving the Red V fans on the sparsely populated hill puzzled by the events on the field.
The situation was so dire that the usually amiable Warriors fans felt sympathy for the struggling Dragons.
Typically, rugby league enthusiasts do not take pleasure in witnessing a team suffer through 11 losses, and when including the final four games of the previous year, that number rises to 15.
However, for those who made it to Kogarah, an overwhelming dread lingered, suggesting that conditions may worsen before any improvement occurs.
Removing Shane Flanagan just over a month ago, following the seventh loss, was unlikely to provide a quick solution, but the club needed to take action.
While Flanagan and Ben Haran ultimately had to depart, the decision was not expected to yield immediate results.
The roster was constructed under their leadership, and Flanagan had resisted any meaningful changes in team selection as his coaching tenure declined, while it became evident that the players were not fully engaged.