‘Big turning point’: Flanno slams Dragons’ ‘soft’ defence amid Su’A blunder admission
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan admitted Jaydn Su’A’s bombed try was a turning point, but still believes his side did enough to beat the Tigers in a disappointing 34-28 Magic Round loss.
Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The Dragons could have gone into half-time trailing by four, but a dropped ball from Su’A in the act of scoring saw Jahream Bula go the length of the field to make it 26-10 at the break.
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
However, Flanagan believes his side were coming over the top of the Tigers, but just couldn’t ice the match winning moments.
“There’s a lot of different parts of it, I thought we were coming to get them,” Flanagan said.
“They came up with some errors, we had some opportunities when we were six points behind and we didn’t nail them and obviously what happened just before half time ends up being the turning point.”
Flanagan refused to blame Su’A for the loss, but conceded it was a massive momentum changer.
“I thought it was a big turning point,” Flanagan said.
“Like we go half time 20-16 and we scored tries and once again had a few play the balls in their 20m zone and it would have been 20-16 but it wasn’t to be.
“I loved in the second half that we showed some grit and came back to get them because to go to 26-10, that’s a big turn around, a 12-point turn around.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘REAL TRUTH WILL COME OUT’: Fifita breaks silence on shock Titans axing
ROOSTERS VS DOLPHINS: Tedesco masterclass after early halves blow
SHARKS V EELS: ‘No doubt’ on Moses’ Origin claim; Hynes’ statement
“To show some resilience and grit to come back I thought it was good. Then we had opportunities to nail it at the back end and we just didn’t do it and just pointing that way.”
Dragons skipper Damien Cook revealed the Dragons told Su’A to forget the blunder straight away, but conceded they are making too many errors to win games consistently in 2025.
“We just told him to drop it, let it go,” Cook said.
“The mistakes in those games, those things happen.
“It was a big turning point at half time but we had given ourselves a chance to score some points. We left some tries out there. It wasn’t the reason we lost that game.
“We got a real lesson on keep moving until we get the ball on the last tackle and just making sure we execute down there.
“But there was times where we just didn’t get out of our end or errors and penalties again.”
A silver lining for the Dragons was the display of new halfback Lyhkan King-Togia.
“I knew what he’d do tonight,” Flanagan said.
Bula pounces on Su’A’s try-line SHOCKER! | 01:08
“He’s a good young kid and he’ll only get better.”
Flanagan was pressed on whether King-Togia has the Dragons’ No.7 jersey for the foreseeable future.
“Of course yep, he did a good job,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan was also frustrated with some soft defence from his team, especially on last tackle plays.
“Without a doubt, soft on last tackles, soft,” Flanagan said.
“We should have been able to get the football, make a tackle over the sideline. It just wasn’t good enough.”
However, he is confident he has the players to turn it around.
“We’ll work really hard at it,” Flanagan said.
‘Look at them!’ SJ embraced by Wahs fans | 01:21
“The frustrating thing for me is some of the people in and around that have done it before but they just didn’t do it tonight.”
Flanagan was reluctant to blame his players for a lack of commitment, but warned they need to be tougher to win consistently in the NRL.
“I don’t think it is players not wanting to put their body on the line,” Flanagan said.
“I just think we just need to be more consistent in our performances, which I think we have been bar last week against the Roosters.
“But I also think that we need to have a bit of more steel about us right through.
“You can’t defend on five plays and then you drop your guard on the last play, which we did tonight, I think there was three, maybe four tries on tackle six on the last play.
“And we just need to work harder for longer. We scored points, that’s not a problem for us. We just need to turn them away.”
Bennett SLAMS Bunnies’ first-graders! | 04:18
In another bright spot Corey Allan made a successful debut for the club after an ACL injury ruled him out of all last season.
“I thought Corey did well, he carried the ball strong at the back end of the field and the try-saver under the goal posts on Bula,” Flanagan said.
“He did his job. I think you could have, if Val gets a nice pass to him he scores the winning try, so I thought Corey did a good job.
“And he’s on the back of an ACL. It was disappointing. He was just about to get to the start last year and did his ACL just before the season started, so he’s worked hard in the rehab room and it’s good to see him back.”
