On the descent down Mount Ousley, the Dragons’ merchandise truck crashed and flipped onto its side. It’s not like moving merchandise in the current environment wasn’t already challenging enough.
Just when it appeared things couldn’t get any worse for St George Illawarra and embattled coach Shane Flanagan, the footy started.
The latest loss, to Manly at home, is their sixth from as many matches this season, stretching their overall losing streak to 10. It remains to be seen whether it is the last time in charge for Flanagan.
“I don’t want to hide in the coach’s box,” Flanagan said.
“I am here to fight and here to win. I’m on the sideline with the team fighting as hard as I can.
“I didn’t want to hide in the coach’s box and have cameras going up there. They can get as much as they want, they can get me for 80 minutes if they want.”
Flanagan said that the team is “still playing for me” despite the latest loss. Given Anthony Seibold was sacked after just three games and Flanagan is under the pump after six, Flanagan was asked whether the rope was shorter than ever for the coaching brigade.
“That’s a tricky one,” he said. “All I know is I have a job here to do. It’s about winning football games and there is some other stuff to go with it, educating young players...
“I fully understand what the responsibilities are. I am not quite sure if the rope is shorter or longer, but it’s not an enjoyable one when you’re one that rope.”
This was a significant improvement on the non-performance the Dragons submitted against North Queensland a week ago. No one can say that the team didn’t have a crack for their coach. But it ended in yet another defeat that raised more questions than answers over whether the former premiership-winning Cronulla mentor should remain at the helm.
With his career at a crossroads, Flanagan spent the entirety of the game on the sidelines. From close proximity, he saw his team, and his grip upon it, unravel.
A raft of changes – the inclusion of son Kyle at halfback, the switching of Valentine Holmes from right to left centre and the injection of Tyrell Sloan for injured fullback Clint Gutherson – didn’t have the desired effect.
Some of the mistakes the Dragons made were proverbial coach killers. Like when Manly scored their second try from a kick-off. Or their third when Kyle Flanagan badly missed Tom Trbojevic.
Even the opening try was a knife in the heart. When Jason Saab batted the ball back to Reuben Garrick, it was a case of one former Dragon setting up another.
When the score blew out to 16-0 at almost a point a minute, it looked like this could be anything.
Unlike their merchandise truck, the Red V didn’t roll over. They scored two quick, opportunistic tries, and would have earned another right in the stroke of half-time had Setu Tu not dropped the Steeden over the line.
However, the rookie winger redeemed himself after the resumption. Not only did he score to give his team a shock lead, he also stopped a runaway Tolu Koula.
Manly had issues of their own. After a dominant opening quarter, they clocked off the next two. Jake Trbojevic passed a head-injury assessment, but a cut that closed his right eye – and will require stitches – prevented him from returning to the field. But when superstar sibling Tom set up Lehi Hopoate, the Dragons’ fate was sealed.
It had been an eventful day for the joint-venture outfit well before the full-time siren. This masthead broke the news that Scott Drinkwater had been given early permission to explore his options, with Wollongong his most likely destination. Even if that comes to pass, this was a reminder that there is at least another spine position that desperately needs filling.
Once again, the Dragons were close enough but not good enough to ice a game in the balance.
This is a roster that needs to be rebuilt. Is Flanagan the man to oversee it? Will moving him on result in an immediate improvement in performance?
Some of the Dragons fans on the hill had their say when they booed as the full-time hooter sounded. It’s a question their opposition recently asked themselves, and they are beginning to get their answer.