Shane Flanagan

Flanagan played S. G. Ball Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup, and President's Cup for St. George Dragons. He made his first-grade debut from the bench against the Magpies in round 11 of 1987, and his second game was against them in round 24. After 3 appearances in 1987, he made none in 1988.

In 1989, he joined the Western Suburbs Magpies. In his second game for them, he accused his Broncos opponent Andrew Gee of biting, showing the referee a mark on his forearm. The Magpies CEO later decided not to take any action against Gee.[6] In round 8, he scored his first try in a tight victory over St. George at Kogarah Oval.[7] He scored his second and final try of the year in an "outstanding game" round 16, darting over from dummy-half.

After being a regular at hooker in 1989 and 1990, he only played in 5 games in 1991 under new coach Warren Ryan, with new recruit Joe Thomas taking his spot. His last game for the Magpies was a play-off for 5th spot.

He moved to Parramatta Eels from 1992 to 1994. He retired from playing football following a knee injury and was engaged to coach the Parramatta SG Ball team in 1997.[8]

He had spent the 1997 season in Super League as Stuart Raper's assistant at Castleford Tigers before he was an assistant coach for the Sydney Roosters for two years under Ricky Stuart. He has coached the Australian Schoolboys, was an assistant coach for Australia in 2007 and was an assistant coach under Craig Bellamy of New South Wales from 2007 to 2010.[4]

In July 2010, Flanagan was instated as Cronulla-Sutherland head coach following Ricky Stuart's resignation with six weeks remaining in the 2010 season. [9]

As head coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Flanagan lost his first three games mostly by small margins before a breakthrough win came against premiership contenders the Sydney Roosters in round 23 of the 2010 season. The Sharks won 18–12. The Sharks won one more game in the 2010 season, against the Gold Coast Titans.

In the 2012 NRL season, Flanagan coached Cronulla to finish 7th on the ladder. Flanagan built a reputation for signing key players to the club. Having signed Todd Carney the previous year, Flanagan secured the purchases of Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington from the West Tigers, Michael Gordon and Luke Lewis from the Panthers, and Jonathon Wright from the Bulldogs.

In 2013, following a year-long investigation into the Sharks' supplements program carried out during the 2011 NRL season, Flanagan was suspended from his role for a period of 12 months.[10]

In the 2016 NRL season he guided Cronulla to a top-four finish. They would travel to Canberra in the first week of the 2016 Finals and record a 16–14 victory thus earning a preliminary final at Allianz Stadium. The Cronulla Sharks would win this preliminary final against the 2015 premiers, the North Queensland Cowboys, by 32-20 thus earning a place in the 2016 Grand Final. On 2 October, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks would record a 14–12 victory over the Melbourne Storm and win the Premiership becoming the first head coach of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to win a premiership.

In the 2017 NRL season he guided Cronulla to the finals. In week one, Cronulla played against North Queensland in the elimination final. Cronulla went to be upset 15–14.[11] In 2018, Flanagan took Cronulla to a top-four finish. Cronulla lost their week one final match against Eastern Suburbs before defeating Penrith the following week 21–20. In the preliminary final, Cronulla was defeated by Melbourne 22–6.[12]

On 19 December 2018, Flanagan was de-registered as a coach indefinitely for failing to adhere to the conditions of his suspension in 2014. The NRL integrity unit had found that Flanagan had sent more than fifty emails exchanged between Flanagan, club management, and the football department which was strictly against the conditions of his suspension which included that Flanagan was to have no contact or involvement with the club during his ban. The NRL also fined Cronulla $800,000 as punishment.[13]

On 20 September 2019, it was announced that Flanagan was allowed to return to the NRL but under strict conditions. It was reported that Flanagan was still unable to hold a head coaching role at any club until 2022 but was allowed to return as an assistant coach.[14]

On 27 November 2019, it was announced that Flanagan had joined his junior club the St. George Illawarra Dragons as an assistant coach to Paul McGregor beginning in the 2020 NRL season.[5] Flanagan's role is specifically focused on defence. Flanagan was the most important of one of 8 coaching changes at the Dragons following a dismal 2019.[15][16][17]

In September 2020, Flanagan was told his services would not be required in 2021 by St. George after the appointment of new head coach Anthony Griffin.[18]

• Cronulla Sharks profile