Furious Dragons fans are calling for the club to bite the bullet and replace Shane Flanagan amid revelations young forward Loko Pasifika Tonga has requested a release. St George Illawarra are winless after six rounds and sit dead-last on the NRL ladder ahead of a clash with Souths in Round 7.
Jaydn Su’A has already decided not to take up his player option for next season, and will likely join Parramatta in 2027. And Pasifiki Tonga became the latest player who wants out on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old prop has played 10 NRL games to date, but is yet to be used in first-grade by Flanagan this season. Despite scoring a try, making two line-breaks and four tackle-breaks while running for 252 metres in NSW Cup last weekend, Pasifika Tonga was once again left out the 19-man squad for first-grade against Souths.
Loko Pasifiki Tonga (R) is the latest player who wants out of Shane Flanagan’s Dragons. Image: Getty
He was instead named in jersey 21, sparking his decision to ask for a release. Mat Rogers, whose management company has Pasifika Tonga on their books, explained the situation on SEN radio on Tuesday night.
“They’ve obviously got an opinion of him that, he’s not up to scratch,” Rogers said. “He doesn’t feel like he’s being developed and I guess we agree.
“He doesn’t know what to do. That’s the problem. Whether or not they will (let him go), they might dig their heels in, they’ve got some more pressing issues in relation to winning games of football.
“There’s a very frustrated young man there who’s busting his butt and he’s playing the house down and scored two tries in the three matches he’s played (in NSW Cup). He thinks he deserves an opportunity, and now it’s not sour grapes, he just feels like he’s not being told what to do.”
Loko Pasifiki Tonga hasn’t been used at NRL level in 2026.
(Getty Images)Dragons fans want change of coach
Dragons fans are fuming that the likes of Emre Guler, Blake Lawrie and Hame Sele are getting more game time than Pasifika Tonga and Jacob Halangahu. Flanagan has also persisted with son Kyle at halfback rather than handing young gun Kade Reed his NRL debut.
Considering the predicament the Dragons are in, they can’t afford to lose talented juniors with bright futures. They’ve lost players like Savelio Tamale, Sione Finau and Latu Finau in recent times, and fans have had enough.
Losing Pasifika Tonga is the final straw for many, with fans flocking to social media to demand Flanagan is sacked. Fans are desperate for a new coach to come in and give the likes of Reed, Pasifika Tonga and Halangahu the playing time they deserve.
Along with the Couchman brothers, Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan, the Dragons have an impressive crop of young forwards who will be joined by Keaon Koloamatangi in 2027. At this point, surely the right move is to play the young guns and cut some of the veteran dead wood.