'Protect him': Bulldogs torched over Kyle Flanagan interview

The Canterbury Bulldogs have been fiercely criticised for having an emotional Kyle Flanagan front a press conference just hours before it was confirmed he would be dropped for this weekend.

Flanagan was visibly emotional when he fronted media on Tuesday, after he was benched during the Bulldogs' 32-12 loss to St George Illawarra in round nine.

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A question about advice he's received from his father, former NRL player and coach Shane, was enough for Flanagan to need to pause during his answer.

“He’s been a major part of my career and having him at home is pretty special," he said after composing himself.

“Sometimes he takes his footy hat off and gives me advice as a son, it’s always good going home to him.

“I am (heartbroken), I think what’s happened the last two years, I want to prove to people that I’m a good footy player.

"I’ve obviously got a footy family and as you mention the old man and the family, I’m quite a family-driven person, I just want to make them proud.”

Flanagan went on to say he was disappointed to have been hooked in the second half, but said he understood the fundamental need for the club to win games.

“It’s a team sport and this club needs to win games, I’m disappointed," he said.

“We’re not creating as much in attack. Where we are giving them the ball is crucial to us and if you give good teams possession they are going to put points on you.

“It’s tough and disappointing. I wasn’t happy about it, but this team needs to win footy games. That’s how I looked at it.”

Canterbury Bulldogs slammed over Kyle Flanagan interview

Discussing Flanagan's interview on NRL 360, Daily Telegraph reporter Paul Crawley said it was a 'shocking' look for the highly paid star to have been put forward to to interviews.

Crawley said the Bulldogs 'should be embarrassed' by the footage.

“Kyle shouldn’t be embarrassed. They hooked him on the weekend and they made the decision to drop him.

“They’ve got the right to do that, but it’s also their job to protect him.

“I don’t care if it’s Adam Reynolds or Daly Cherry-Evans, throw any halfback you want into that side – they won’t fix the problems at the Bulldogs.

“The problems at the Bulldogs aren't Kyle Flanagan’s doing.”

Fellow league journalist Paul Kent agreed, saying the club had done a poor job of protecting its player during what was clearly a rough day.

“But they should’ve told someone there, at the very least sit down and have a talk to him and get his frame of mind, and an understanding of where he’s at and if he’s able to handle it," Kent said.

“He might’ve got up today and been able to handle it and just put his version out and everyone walks away going, well done, well handled.

“But he clearly is not at that stage and someone at the club – and for all the bulls**t you get about welfare at clubs – to drop the ball on this kid like they have today, it’s tough on him and embarrassing for the club.

“Someone at the club needs to sit there and answer a few questions.”

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