Shane Flanagan press conference, St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans, wooden spoon predictions, proving critics wrong

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has admitted he was “sitting back quite happy” watching people tip his club to collect the wooden spoon this season.

Flanagan was all smiles on Saturday night after his side upset the Titans with a thumping 28-4 win on the Gold Coast.

In stark contrast to recent years, St George Illawarra played with flair in attack and some serious grit in defence as they silenced all their off-season critics in just 80 minutes.

Flanagan endured a brutal summer with his players copping injuries and suspensions, while also missing out on a host of big-name signings.

But he told foxsports.com.au during the week that his squad has the talent to compete this season and the proof was in the pudding on Saturday night.

“I was sitting back quite happy that people were tipping us to come last because it won’t happen,” Flanagan said.

“It’s been a really good pre-season and the players have worked their butts off… especially defensively, they way I want to play the game they needed to be fitter, faster, stronger and they’ve worked really hard so credit to them and credit to the staff.”

The match marked Flanagan’s first in the NRL as a head coach since 2018 but the premiership winner was quick to deflect that narrative.

“It’s not about me. It’s about the team and they have to start to believe and I thought tonight was a really big step in believing in what type of team we’ve got,” he said.

“To keep turning the Titans away, at one stage I think they had 45 play-the-balls in our 30 and I think we had 12 in theirs and we just kept turning them away.

“The biggest challenge with this group is to make sure they start believing in what sort of side they are and it was a good step today, we kept turning them away and they didn’t run over our try line, they had to kick in behind us to score a try and that means a lot to me, the way we defend.

“If you look at any side that wins the competition or plays semi-finals, they’re in the top three or four defensively and that’s where I want to see us.”