‘His time will come’: Flanagan slams ‘impatient’ calls to hand prodigy debut... in big admission

Shane Flanagan has criticised people calling for the Dragons to play young halfback Kade Reed in the season opener and pleaded for patience with the young playmaker‘s development.

Reed starred for the Dragons in their first trial victory against the Knights, while a full-strength team lost to a second-string Rabbitohs side in the Charity Shield without him.

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It left some people questioning if Reed should be fast-tracked into the team amid uncertainty over the effectiveness of the Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson combination and the Dragons’ need to improve their attack from 2025.

Speaking on the Dragons Den podcast, Flanagan called for patience with the young halfback to not hurt his development and make sure when he comes into first grade he stays there.

“There is a lot of people out there that want me to play Kade Reed in Vegas,” Flanagan said on the Dragons Den podcast.

“That would be suicide for me and for Kade. No matter what position people play in, I have got to manage their careers and when it is right and when they are physically strong enough.

“To play Kade against Kikau and all of them is just asking for him to lose his confidence.

“He might be able to handle 80 minutes and do OK and we come out of it and go, he was okay.

“But you have got to talk about the kid’s confidence and belief and having a long career.

“When you start playing NRL you want it to be positive and not be all negative, standing behind your own goal posts and having negative thoughts and wondering if you are strong enough or whether you can defend well enough.”

Reed might be ready to handle the attack side of playing halfback in the NRL with his passing and kicking games and general fitness, but Flanagan believes he needs to work on his strength and defence.

“Kade has got some really good qualities and he has just got to work on some other things,” Flanagan said.

“He will put some size on over the next 12 months and he has done some pre-seasons with us, but now he is full-time.

“I think that full-time training in a strength program and I think he is 74kg now and I think he will get up to probably 80kg by the end of the year without a doubt.”

However, some people have suggested that there are players of similar weight and size to Reed already dominating in the NRL, which Flanagan took issue with.

“People say there are some other players in the competition that are smaller than him,” Flanagan said.

“Well they might be smaller than him, but not too many of them defend in the front line. They are mostly fullbacks.”

Flanagan takes the responsibility of managing Reed’s career seriously and wants to ensure when he gets into first grade he stays there.

“I am going to manage Kade’s career and look after him because he does have a career in front of him and when he gets there I don’t want to put him in and take him back out again three or four weeks later.

“He goes in there to stay and start his career, so hopefully it is at some stage this year and he gets an opportunity and he will take it because he has been a really good kid for us the last three or four years he has been in NRL training on and off.

“The boys love him. He is good to have around the joint and he has got some real qualities, but his time will come.”

The pressure of being the chief playmaker in an NRL team comes with unique pressure and Flanagan wants to make sure Reed is ready before putting him under that spotlight.

“He has got to run a team,” Flanagan said.

“He has got to feel comfortable to tell some 200-gamers to get out of the way or do this or that.

“It is a tough job as a halfback and it comes under a microscope and if you don’t do it right once or don’t do your job you are under the microscope.

“He has some work to do, but he will get there.

“From our perspective Kade has done a good job and we are lucky to have him, but don’t be impatient.”

EX-TIGERS STAR FINDS NEW HOME IN SUPER LEAGUE

Ex-Tigers utility Jack Bird has found a new home at the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League after he was released from the final year of his deal.

Bird fell out of favour with the Tigers in his first season at the club, playing just 17 games before he was released over the off-season.

The 30-year-old scored 36 tries in 173 games for the Sharks, Broncos, Dragons and Tigers since his debut in 2015 and won a premiership with Cronulla in 2016, as well as playing five Origins for the Blues.

“Leeds Rhinos are delighted to announce the signing of Australian Jack Bird on a two year contract, strengthening the club’s squad for the new Betfred Super League season,” the Rhinos said in a statement.

Bird said he was delighted to play for such a proud club and test himself in the Super League.

“I’m really excited to be joining Leeds Rhinos,” Bird said.

“It’s a huge club with a proud history and a passionate supporter base. I know a few of the boys; Brodie Croft and Keenan Palasia could not speak more highly of the club and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

“I am looking forward to being at AMT Headingley on Friday night for the game against York, I have heard so much about how great the atmosphere is and I’m looking forward to experiencing it for myself and then getting stuck into to training over the next couple of weeks.”

Rhinos coach Brad Arthur was thrilled to have another former NRL star at the club.

“Jack brings toughness, professionalism and a high level of football intelligence,” Arthur said.

“He’s competed at the top level and understands what it takes to prepare and perform week in, week out.

“We’re confident he’ll add value to our group both on and off the field and help drive standards as we head into the new season.”

Rhinos Sporting Director Ian Blease welcomed Bird’s signing as a massive coup for the club.

“Jack is a quality experienced player who will add depth and competition to our squad,” Blease said.

“With Max Simpson sadly ruled out for the season following his knee injury, it was important for us to act quickly to ensure we remain strong across the backline.

“Jack’s ability to cover multiple positions and his big-game experience make him an excellent fit for Leeds Rhinos.”

YOUNG OPENS UP ON WALSH HEADBUTT

Raiders star Hudson Young has opened up on his controversial finals moment with Broncos fullback Reece Walsh which led to a rare double sin bin.

Both Young and Walsh were given ten minutes in the bin during the 93-minute qualifying final epic following a fracas that was sparked when Walsh seemingly headbutted Young before pushing him to the ground.

The Raiders back rower has since admitted that he wasn’t a blameless party in the incident.

When asked by UNSCRIPTED podcast host Josh Mansour if he had milked the fall to win a penalty, Young said he did.

“Yeah, but he did lean in with his head,” Young said.

“He did hit me but there was nothing in it, I was stirring him up and probably deserved it. I was geeing him up all game.”

Many were left surprised when Young was also sent to the sin bin. Even more of a shock was that Walsh escaped suspension for an act that usually results in one.

“As a player I just hope they’d be consistent,” Young continued.

“If it was me or another player that did the headbutt, I hope the NRL would treat it the same way, obviously with Reece they just fined him, it is what it is.”

Following that game, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the club was left “stunned” by the decision to sin bin Young.

“When our captain Joe (Tapine) asked the referee why Hudson got 10-minutes, referee Ashley Klein told him, ‘’He stirred him up,’’ Stuart said.

“So that’s the rule now, if a player “stirs” the opposition up, you’re going to be sin binned.

“There’s no rule that says you can’t get under the skin of your opposition.”

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