Shane Flanagan in grim admission as Dragons target rejects NRL club
Several high-profile stars have turned down the chance to join Flanagan's Dragons side.
Shane Flanagan could see the writing on the wall before English rugby league sensation Jack Welsby became the latest high-profile star to snub the chance to move to the St George Illawarra Dragons. Flanagan had been trying to sign the English Test five-eighth and fullback, but saw those hopes dashed when Welsby confirmed on Thursday (AEDT) that he'd decided to extend his stay with St Helens in the UK's Super League, rather than make the switch to the NRL.
"I am over the moon glad it's done with now," Welsby said in a statement. "It was a decision I had to make and I'm glad that I've made the decision that I have, and I'm going to be around all my best mates and a really good club.
"The NRL's a massive competition and everyone sees it as that, but I believe that Super League can be that and we've just got to work towards it. Sometimes the speculation that comes with the NRL and stuff is not just as simple as going to sign at a different club, it's a lot of things ... but for me, it was always going to be St Helens."
'NOT GOING ANYWHERE': Panthers smack down Jarome Luai move
'DISRESPECTFUL': Tigers legends hit back amid furore about board bloodbath
Welsby said he had unfinished business at St Helens after his side was eliminated from the Super League semi-finals this year, having won the previous four grand finals. "Everyone at St Helens expects to win trophies, whether it's the fans, the players, the coaches, or the backroom staff," he said.
"That sort of expectation, it's hard sometimes, but it's what I want, I want that pressure and that's where I feel like I play my best rugby (league). I want to win things again. I think last year was a massive disappointment and the way it ended ... [it] was a horrible feeling and I don't want to feel it again."
Shane Flanagan's brutal admission in Jack Welsby pursuit
Welsby's decision to reject the Dragons comes as another blow to Flanagan and his hopes of recruiting star power to the NRL club. Flanagan's side also missed out on the prized signings of Addin Fonua-Blake and Tom Dearden, who were among the most high-profile players on the open market. Fonua-Blake turned down a reported $4.4 million deal from the Dragons to sign with Cronulla from 2025, while Dearden committed his future to North Queensland by signing a lucrative extension with the Cowboys.
Flanagan admitted to the Daily Telegraph earlier this month that his side was forced to look "outside the square" in its pursuit of Welsby, with few options of his ilk available on the open market. The Dragons coach conceded that it was always going to be a difficult job to convince the 22-year-old to uproot his life and move to the other side of the world for his footy career.
“We are definitely looking outside the square and have gone as far as going to the UK with Jack Welsby... He is a super talent with attacking brilliance," Flanagan told the Daily Telegraph. “In the World Cup, he was outstanding. Even Benny Hunt said he was hard to handle when Australia played them.
“The challenge is getting some of those English players out of their country. Once they’re here they love it but getting them here is the challenge.” Flanagan will now have to turn his attentions elsewhere after Welsby turned down the opportunity to join the Dragons.
Dragons star Junior Amone set to have contract torn up
As well as missing out on key recruitment targets, the Dragons also copped another brutal setback this week when the NRL issued a notice to deregister the contract of young playmaker Junior Amone. The move came after the 21-year-old was found guilty of a hammer attack on a tradesman in November last year.
Amone was given a two-year intensive corrections order, forced to do 300 hours of community service and also fined $1000 by the court and ordered to pay compensation to the victim. The Dragons star was found guilty on a number of charges including intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident with the tradesman. The young gun was reportedly on a $500,000 per season contract, which is set to be ripped up if he chooses not to appeal or is unsuccessful in doing so.
with agencies
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
