Shane Flanagan out as St George Illawarra Dragons coach after winless start to NRL season

The St George Illawarra Dragons have parted ways with coach Shane Flanagan after seven straight losses to start the 2026 NRL season.

Starting 2026 with an impressive showing to push Canterbury to golden point in Las Vegas, the Dragons have lost every game this year, including a 30-12 defeat to the Rabbitohs on Saturday.

General manager of football Ben Haran has also been let go, with Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster describing them as "good people under a significant amount of pressure".

The club said Flanagan's replacement would be revealed after the club spoke to the rest of the coaching staff.

Whoever replaces Flanagan will join a growing list of Dragons mentors, with his removal marking the third time in the past six years that the club has changed coaches mid-season.

Flanagan took over in 2024 after Anthony Griffin was let go the previous season.

He led the team to finishes of 11th and 15th before his tenure ended with the Dragons in last place.

"I care deeply about this club and the playing group, and after discussions with the club, we agreed this was the right time for a change," he said in a statement.

"I'd like to thank the players, staff, members and fans for their support and I wish the club well for the future."

Dragons chair criticises 'personal agendas' in the media

Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster said the media speculation around Flanagan's position at the club, where his son Kyle plays in the halves, has taken a toll.

Kyle's signing was announced in September of 2023, just three months after Shane's three-year deal was announced, and he has played 50 of a possible 55 games with a number of different halves partners.

The relationship between father and son has sparked questions about perceived favouritism as media speculation swirled around the club.

"A lot of it absolutely deserved, some of it poor and some of it about personal agendas," he said.

"Our coverage of this great game, this great club should be better."

Lancaster, who insisted the departure was a "mutual agreement", said the impacts of speculation around Flanagan, on traditional and social media, "haven't been great".

In August last year, Flanagan's contract was extended through to the end of 2028 with chief executive Tim Watsford saying at the time that Flanagan had laid the foundation for the club's future and "re-instilled belief in our playing group, coaches and supporters".

The Dragons have completely changed tack eight months and 12 games later.

"I don't know we're in a position to justify a decision," Lancaster said.

"As a club [and] an employer there is a duty of care, not just to the club, to its supporters and fans, but to our employees," he said.

"And a lot of what's transpired over the last week, the conversations we've had, have been about that."

Watsford said last year that Flanagan's re-signing was evidence of the club's commitment to "building a sustainable future", rather than focusing on short-term goals.

"The Dragons are proud of the progress that is being made and remain focused on continuing the journey toward consistent finals contention, driven by a committed group of players, staff, and loyal supporters," he said.

"This is an exciting era for the Red V; one built on resilience, local pride, and an unwavering belief in the future."

The extension came days after the Dragons beat ladder leaders Canberra. The team beat similarly finals-bound Cronulla a day later, but then started an 11-game losing streak that is yet to end.

They wrapped up last year with four straight losses, three times conceding 40 points, as Flanagan's side slipped to 15th on the ladder to continue a run of seven straight years missing the finals.

The Dragons have only won two finals games since winning the premiership in 2010.

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