A new dawn beckons at the Dragons, with Shane Flanagan set to be sacked as Dragons coach.

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After seven straight losses to start the season, and a drought that dates back to Round 23 of the 2025 season, the Dragons had little choice but make a call on Flanagan.

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But sacking a coach often leads to a bigger, and important question — who could actually take over?

Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the major contenders to become Dragons head coach should the club move on from Flanagan!

DEAN YOUNG

Young is the obvious man, given he is the frontrunner to be handed the interim role should Flanagan be sacked in a situation that mirrors that of Kieran Foran.

However, Young has more coaching experience than his Sea Eagles counterpart, having spent time in the Dragons youth system since 2013.

From there, he has progressed to become an assistant coach for the Red V, Tonga and the Cowboys before landing back at the Dragons under Shane Flanagan.

Throw in the mix a stint in the Blues’ coaching staff under Laurie Daley, and Young is as well-credentialed as they come.

In saying that, at this stages it appears Young may be behind two other leading candidates for the permanent job.

“I think there’s a view within the organisation that he’s been there while the team’s struggling,” Brent Read reported on NRL 360 last week.

“Even though he’s the logical guy and everyone assumes he’s going to get the job, there are other guys out there.”

The 42-year-old was in calculations to take over at the Eels, with that role being handed to Jason Ryles — another former Dragons player.

Widely rated one of the best assistants in the game, it’s a matter of when, not if Young will become a permanent head coach.

During the Red V’s loss to the Sea Eagles, he was also seen giving the first halftime pep talk, addressing the playing squad before Flanagan in a bid to spark their side into action.

Read into that what you will — but it’s a clear indication that Young has some sway when it comes to the Dragons playing group.

He is also a club legend, having played 209 first grade games as a one-club player between 2003 and 2012.

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Dragons assistant coach Dean Young.Source: Supplied Source Known

BEN HORNBY

The first of those two leading candidates for the role.

Another club legend, Hornby played 273 games for the Dragons and also began his coaching journey at the Red V.

Previously an assistant at the club, he made the move to the Rabbitohs in 2020, going on to work under Wayne Bennett and Jason Demetriou before becoming interim head coach in 2024.

Hornby is widely regarded as another head coach in waiting, and has strong ties to the Dragons, having previously been floated as a candidate to take over in 2023.

Staying and continuing his time under Wayne Bennett may be a situation Hornby doesn’t want to leave, especially considering there’s a chance he could take over once the super coach calls time.

Especially considering he is only 46-year-old and has a long future ahead of him, Hornby may not want to jump into such a volatile role.

However, the allure of coaching Red V recruit Keaon Koloamatangi next season could be a drawcard, especially if the Dragons also land Scott Drinkwater.

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Ben Hornby could be an option for St George Illawarra to take over as NRL head coach. Credit: NRL Images.Source: The Daily Telegraph

BRAD ARTHUR

If they don’t opt for Hornby, Arthur is the other, more experienced option the Dragons could turn to.

Arthur is currently in England, under contract with Leeds until the end of this season.

But he will return to Australia if a job in the NRL arises.

As The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said on Fox League, Arthur is at the top of Manly’s list, but will undoubtedly be a Dragons contender if Flanagan is ousted.

That is particularly true when you consider Arthur is made for a job like this given the way he turned things around at Parramatta.

“Brad Arthur is a guy who just missed out on the PNG job. He’ll be in the thick of it,” Read reported.

However, the former Eels mentor sounded like a man who was content to stay put when speaking to Fox League in Las Vegas.

“Twelve months ago I would have said I was really desperate to get back but I feel like I’m a lot more settled now … I’m really comfortable,” Arthur said.

“At the moment yeah, I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business and I’d like to get that opportunity but when that opportunity comes I’ll be ready and I know I’ll be a better coach.”

Arthur was sacked by the Eels after 10 rounds in 2024, following 137 wins from 264 games in charge of Parramatta from 2012 to 2024, including the 2022 Grand Final loss to the Panthers.

Brad Arthur is an experienced option. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: News Corp Australia

MICHAEL ENNIS

When news broke Anthony Seibold would be sacked by Manly, Michael Ennis was one of the frontrunners named to take his position permanently.

“I’m as surprised. I certainly didn’t see it coming,” Ennis said on the Fox League panel in response to reports linking him to the role.

“There’s been no conversation around it in all honesty.”

Such is his reputation, the 42-year-old is considered one of the next assistants to take the leap to head coaching and has even been linked with a job at Hull KR to replace the outgoing Willie Peters.

That job shapes as a perfect apprenticeship, with many coaches making a successful switch from the Super League to the NRL after gaining the needed experience.

However, alongside Young, few know the inner workings of the Dragons at present more than Ennis, who has worked under Flanagan as an assistant this season.

Ennis is an astute rugby league mind, having retired 2016 after 274 NRL matches and eight appearances for the NSW Blues.

He has also worked as a coaching consultant for the Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks.

Ennis spent time on the coaching staff at the Manly Sea Eagles which saw him look after the team’s hookers and halves before making the move to the Dragons.

It remains to be seen if he has the experience to slot straight in as a head coach, but he will undoubtedly be in the mix when Red V powerbrokers make their final call.

Dragons assistant coach Michael Ennis. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

MATT BALLIN

This one seems unlikely, given other contenders have Dragons links — and Ballin has been rumoured to be the favourite for the full-time Manly role.

Ballin is a favourite son at Brookvale, having played 217 games for Manly between 2007 and 2015.

Ballin has had an impressive apprenticeship as he’s currently on the Broncos’ staff under Michael Maguire and is an assistant for the Maroons.

However, what might work against him is his absence of head coaching experience.

It’s unclear where he stands in the Sea Eagles’ race, especially given Kieran Foran’s early success, but Ballin could come under consideration for both roles.

Matt Ballin of the Broncos. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

JASON DEMETRIOU

Demetriou was eyeing off the PNG Chiefs gig but those plans have been thwarted given the NRL’s 19th franchise has reportedly agreed to terms with Willie Peters.

The former Souths mentor has made no secret of his desire to return to the NRL.

Currently, he is in his first season at the helm of the London Broncos, who are on top of the ladder of the Betfred Championship, England’s second tier comp.

In fact, the Broncos are unbeaten from eight games with a staggering points differential of 385.

While Demetriou might be an outside hope for now, his fast start at the Broncos likely won’t go under notice.

MATT KING

King has long served as an assistant at the Roosters under Trent Robinson.

Craig Fitzgibbon has been a recent and successful graduate from the Tricolours’ coaching ranks to make the head coaching transition.

Many expect King to do the same in the future, spending nine invaluable years under Robinson after an impressive playing career.

King was one of the leading candidates to take over the NSW Blues last season and was reportedly willing to leave his post to take the job.

The 44-year-old was also an assistant under Michael Maguire for the Blues in 2024, and if his name is being floated for the top job at Origin level, he will almost certainly come into NRL calculations in the future.

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JOHN MORRIS

Morris is another on this list that has past experience as an NRL head coach.

The 45-year-old was sacked by the Sharks in 2021, with Craig Fitzgibbon hired to take over in the Shire after having the final year of his deal cut short.

It was a bold decision at the time and one that saw them miss out on the top eight, with Josh Hannay stepping in as caretaker coach for majority of the season.

Morris has since been an assistant at the Rabbitohs before joining Benji Marshall at the Tigers, and he is widely considered a potential head coaching candidate.

What’s more is his sacking was also considered to be a brutal move only five weeks into the season, after back-to-back finals appearances.

He also achieved that top eight finish after the Sharks had $353,000 stripped from their cap, having to blood a host of new players a rebuild the squad.