Shane Flanagan is the primary to confess he’ll at all times have emotions for Cronulla.
“They’re going to by no means be simply one other membership,” the St George Illawarra coach stated on Saturday.
“To win the primary premiership for the membership (in 2016), to undergo what we went by means of.”
This century, 22 coaches have returned to tackle a membership the place they have been beforehand full-time boss.
A number of of these have come up in opposition to a group they gained a premiership at, with Michael Maguire the final to take action in 2019.
However none have had a break up like Flanagan, who was successfully rubbed out of the sport after the Sharks’ 2018 preliminary-final loss to Melbourne.
The coach had little closure on his time at Cronulla, de-registered by the NRL for breaking the phrases of an earlier suspension.
Flanagan has spoken at size on how he spent the subsequent yr disillusioned with the sport and hiding at nighttime corners of Shark Park to try to watch his son Kyle play within the NRL.
Six years on, he’ll return on Sunday as an opposition head coach for the primary time – and in a really completely different mindset.
He threw a jibe the Sharks’ method after the Dragons’ pummelling final week from the Sydney Roosters, and instantly copped some banter again from Cronulla chairman Steve Mace.
“It is simply me firing a number of folks up,” Flanagan stated.
“Everybody in rugby league, once they’re going up in opposition to their previous membership, sit up for getting there, and mark it within the calendar.
“I had a good time on the Sharks. It was the spotlight of my teaching profession. I am going again there with fond recollections.”
Flanagan will not be alone in returning to Cronulla on Sunday: St George Illawarra’s Jack Hen will carry up his a hundred and fiftieth NRL sport following a horror run of accidents after he gained the 2016 premiership on the Sharks.
The Dragons coach says the long-time utility has discovered a house at centre, declaring Hen’s days within the again row over.
“He is fought actually onerous,” Flanagan stated.
“He was younger and fearless when he debuted however he is matured and is extra conscious of issues now.
“He is in all probability the fittest he is ever been – it is nice to be there for his first sport and his a hundred and fiftieth.”
The Flanagan sideshow has at the least taken some warmth off the Dragons’ gamers after their 60-18 loss to the Roosters..
Flanagan admitted his fees have been “embarrassed and quiet” returning to coaching this week, after being picked aside by Sam Walker on Anzac Day.
Nicho Hynes has the potential to be simply as harmful in opposition to the Purple V on Sunday, with Cronulla having gained the final seven in opposition to the Dragons by a median margin of 17.
“What occurred final week is one thing we will not have and we have got to be taught from it,” Flanagan stated.
“We have had no excuses, we have needed to evaluate it and transfer on to the Sharks.”