The real reason behind Valentine Holmes’ shocker in the game that sealed Shane Flanagan’s fate can be revealed – and it has nothing to do with the chaotic state of the club.
Holmes missed a career high 10 tackles in the 30-12 loss to Souths on Saturday night, which proved the final nail in Flanagan’s proverbial coffin at the Red V.
The incumbent Queensland State of Origin star let in several of Latrell Mitchell‘s four tries through poor defence and copped a pasting from Dragons fans after the game, who accused him on social media of not trying his best.
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But a Dragons source has revealed to Wide World of Sports that Holmes took a painful leg injury into the game and was unable to run at anywhere near full pace.
Valentine Holmes runs out for the Dragons against the Rabbitohs in round seven, 2026. NRL Images
“In retrospect he shouldn’t have played but he wanted to be there for the team and try to keep Latrell quiet,” the source said.
“Val thought that would be a better option than throwing a young bloke in against a player of Latrell’s class.
“Unfortunately they (Souths) had a lot of ball and Latrell was in a mood.
“Val had a (pain killing) injection before the game but it didn’t help.
“He’s not going to make any excuses for his game – he knows he was poor – but now you know why.”
Flanagan, who has a long association with Holmes, was on Sunday morning told he would be sacked morning by the Dragons board, with the official announcement of his departure made on Monday.
The Dragons have now lost 11 games in a row and sit winless on the bottom of the NRL ladder, a club in crisis.
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