Shane Flanagan in huge admission over halfback target ahead of 2024
The Dragons coach is targeting Tom Dearden as a player to build the club around.
Shane Flanagan has his sights set on Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden as the Dragon's long-term halfback. Flanagan is looking to overhaul the squad ahead of the new season and has Dearden on his wish list. He is also continuing his efforts to lure Joey Manu to the Red V, even offering the club captaincy to the Roosters star if he was to make the switch.
Flanagan has made it well-known how much he wants Manu at the club and is attempting to seize on the opportunity of the Roosters centre coming off contract at the end of 2024, meaning he is currently free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs. And Flanagan puts Dearden in the same boat as Manu as someone who the Dragons can build a team around.
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“Tommy’s very similar to Joey (Manu), in that if he decides I want to test the market …he knows that we would love to talk,” Flanagan told AAP. “He’s a young half, played Origin. Got the world at his feet.
“He could be the future halfback of this club for another five or six years. It would be silly not to investigate if he’s on the market. I don’t know if he is open to moving, we’ve spoken, but Tom is a different young kid as well. He doesn’t like the fanfare and the media and all that sort of stuff. We’ll respect that and when and if the time comes, well we’ll do our best.”
Dearden has scored 24 tries in 80 NRL games for the Cowboys and Broncos since his debut in 2019 and has represented Queensland in State of Origin in 2022. Flanagan insists that bringing Dearden to the club wouldn't spell the end of skipper Ben Hunt, as the coach believes they can coexist. “Ben would be that excited to have Tommy here at the club,” Flanagan said.
Dragons halves uncertainty for Flanagan
The Dragons coach is yet to settle on a No.6 for next year with multiple players in contention. Zac Lomax put his hand up to make the switch to five-eighth, recently coming out to say his preferred position is five-eighth.
New recruit Kyle Flanagan is another option but is said to be pushing for the hooker spot as much as a role in the halves. Lomax looms as potentially the most likely to step into the No.6 role if Dearden isn't to join the Red V. Flanagan has made it clear that he wants Lomax to get his hands on the ball more and have a greater impact on the game and five-eighth is a way that could happen, with moving him to fullback another possibility.
Lomax excited to work under Flanagan
Lomax says he had a close relationship with Flanagan during his previous stint at the club in recruitment and believes his expertise will improve the club's attack and defense. “Back when Flanno was at the club and Mary (McGregor) was the coach I got on really well with Flanno and I still do,” Lomax said on The Bye Round with James Graham.
“I just love his willingness to educate players all the time and he is a real strong believer in what he believes in. He is straight to the point and he is pretty bullish in what he wants and I guess you need that in a coach. If you are given results you can give and take a little bit, but he just gets it. He has had so much success. He has won a comp. He has been around a lot of experienced players."
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