Dragons fans are once again calling for young halfback Kade Reed to make his debut at NRL level after tearing apart Manly in the NSW Cup. This comes a day after the Dragons lost to the Manly Sea Eagles with Shane Flanagan fighting to keep his head coaching role.
The Dragons showed some fight on Friday night, but it still wasn’t enough going down 28-18 at home to Manly. Boos rang around the ground with the Dragons now 0-6 to start the season. Flanagan made the brave call to hand his son Kyle Flanagan the No.7 jersey in what many fans believed was a must-win clash for the coach.
Dragons fans are once again calling for young halfback Kade Reed (pcitured right) to get a run after tearing apart Manly in the NSW Cup. (Images: Getty Images/NRL)
And it didn’t pay off with Kyle looking bereft of ideas as the Dragons once again lacked a little X-factor when attacking the line. The Dragons’ attack has struggled in 2026 and many fans have been calling for 20-year-old halfback Reed to make his debut.
Reed starred in the pre-season challenge for the Dragons crossing for a brilliant try and setting up two more in a standout display in his one game. However, the 20-year-old has found himself playing NSW Cup for the first six games with suggestions he is not ready for NRL level. This is because Flanagan has claimed Reed needs more time to develop.
Reed is still doing what he can though after putting together a 40 minute masterclass against Manly in the NSW Cup on Saturday having scored two tries and kicking five from five conversions. Dragons fans are becoming unsettled with their performances and noise around Reed won’t disappear with the halfback once again putting his hand up.
Shane Flanagan doubles down after defeat
Flanagan was on the sideline to watch his side go down to Manly in a thriller on Friday night. And the coach admitted he wanted to be down with his players as they seek their first win of the season.
“I don’t want to hide in the coach’s box,” Flanagan said. I am here to fight and here to win. I’m on the sideline with the team fighting as hard as I can. I didn’t want to hide in the coach’s box and have cameras going up there. They can get as much as they want, they can get me for 80 minutes if they want.”
Flanagan praised his team’s efforts in defeat. “I am not quite sure if the rope is shorter or longer, but it’s not an enjoyable one when you’re on that rope,” he said.
“I’ve never experienced this, losing four or five in a row. It is different especially for the start of the season, but all I can ask is if the players put in a real good effort. That means they’re playing for me. Tonight I thought they did put in a real good effort.”