Dragons cancel training as club can’t agree on interim coach

The St George Illawarra Dragons have been forced into more chaos, cancelling a planned training session as the club struggles to appoint an interim coach following the departure of coach Shane Flanagan.

According to the Daily Telegraph, players were informed that Tuesday’s session had been scrapped while the Dragons board met to determine who will take charge ahead of Saturday’s Anzac Day clash with the Sydney Roosters, leaving the club just days to install a new coach and prepare the team.

Front-runner Dean Young is the leading candidate for the interim role; however, there is reported resistance at board level to confirm him immediately, that is reportedly holding up the club on and off the field.

Young, who previously stepped in as caretaker coach in 2020, is expected to compete with former teammate Ben Hornby for the long-term position, while assistant coach Mick Ennis and NSW Cup coach Willie Talau are also options if he is overlooked.

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Former Dragons hooker Mark Riddell has also been mentioned as a potential short-term solution, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the appointment.

The Dragons are expected to return to training on Wednesday, by which time the club hopes to have an interim coach in place as preparations begin for one of the most high-pressure weeks of their season.

There is no doubt cancelling a training session ahead of the always enormous matchup on Anzac Day against the Roosters is less than ideal preparation.

The Roosters are already coming off a huge win against the Knights where they piled on 24 unanswered second-half points to extend their current winning streak to three games.

If the Dragons were hoping for a bounce-back this weekend, they will first need to get their team back on the training paddock — and a coach in place, which is currently proving a challenge.

Dragons cancel training as club can’t agree on interim coach

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