Disgraced Cronulla Sharks premiership coach Shane Flanagan will be allowed back into the NRL in an assistant coaching role in season 2020.
The NRL released a statement on Friday confirming that Flanagan would be eligible for registration as an assistant coach in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, starting from 18 December 2019.
Flanagan and any club that hires him will have to comply with a range of NRL conditions. Flanagan won’t be eligible to become a senior coach again until at least the end of this two-year period.
“Today I met with the NRL and I both respect and accept the course of action they have taken,” said Flanagan.
“I look forward to returning to the coaching ranks, firstly as an assistant coach and hopefully one day a head coach again.”
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the decision had been reached after extensive conversation with Flanagan.
“I have spoken to Shane at length and he has expressed significant remorse and accepted responsibility for his past actions and the detrimental impact they have had on the game,” said Greenberg.
“We have created a pathway for Shane to return to the coaching ranks. Today’s decision gives Shane an opportunity to be registered in the NRL.
“This is not a set and forget approach. Shane and any future club who employs him has numerous conditions which they must comply with and the Integrity Unit will continue to monitor his conduct over the next two seasons.”
In December last year Flanagan was de-registered from coaching in the NRL when it was found that he had failed to adhere to the conditions of his 2014 suspension.
On that occasion, Flanagan had been suspended from coaching for 12 months following his role in the 2011 Cronulla Sharks supplements scandal.
It was discovered that Flanagan had exchanged emails with the club and its football department throughout the term of his suspension, contradicting the conditions of his ban.
The Sharks were also fined $800,000 for the incident.
Sandgroper
Roar Rookie
Some part of the Flanno hysteria may come from the following .... Strike 1 - get pinged for engaging a known drug cheat 'guru' to supply performance 'improving' 'supplements' and 'injury management' pharmaceuticals to your players Strike 2 - during your suspension for Strike 1 , you break the rules of your suspension and are caught 'driving while under suspension..' ...so to speak That would be clear-cut evidence of one's deep respect for the rules I believe... The cynics amongst us - and thank heavens there are none in this conversation - might think that Flanno's head coach could end up being Sponge Bob, with a 'nothing to see here ' from a club that also has demonstrated a fairly 'innovative' approach to recreational pharmaceuticals at its highest levels Really difficult to believe that there are so few competent coaches out there that we need to be re-using those with a demonstrated history of flouting the rules and being comfortable about putting the players, under his direct supervision, at risk of long-term illness and organ damage ... ..
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Oohh.. yeah!!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Not a bad thought. As they have put themselves in a corner with Mary and can't afford to sack him for 2 years, I'd put Flanno in now as assistant and let Mary know in no uncertain terms that Flanno is taking over in 2021 when Mary's contract expires. Mary owes the club so he should stay on regardless and if he doesn't like it he can leave now, with no pay-out.
mushi
Roar Guru
Didn't he? I thought Carney was allowed back after his first half dozen or so incidents.
Soda
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure flanno did play for dragons though :laughing:
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you're right Soda, if nothing else, it would break that horrible clique of ex Dragons players that seem to be running things.
Soda
Roar Rookie
I don't know if it would be good or bad. Just seems like what is being lined up. I can't imagine flanno going rouge again though, that would be a whole new level of stupid. Thing is he can coach and dragons have a good squad. Having a decent bit of support for Mary might make Mary better? Well I hope so anyway. Anything different to what we have had has got to be better.
Paul
Roar Guru
I have no idea what all the hysteria about Flanagan coming back into the game is all about. He was de-registered because he failed to adhere to the conditions of his suspension in 2014. Sure it was an arrogant & stupid thing to do, but I fail to see how this can equate to banning him for life from the game. As for his coming back as an assistant coach, I see that as the equivalent of probation. He keeps his nose clean, accepts a lesser paid position, does all the scut work that's part of an assistant coaches job and maybe he gets a chance to coach a first grade side.
Paul
Roar Guru
Not sure we want him, with all the problems we have now, Soda? I just can't see a Mary & Shane marriage working too well.
Walter White
Guest
He will forever be described as the disgraced coach in much the same way as Cronulla's only premiership will be seen as dirty.
Malo
Guest
Australian drug enforcement is a farce. How can Flanagan coach, does Dank become CEO of the nrl.
RoryStorm
Guest
I would wager there will be more than one club contacting him on the quiet well before the two years are up to come and coach their team.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
What next? Lance Armstrong back racing bikes in France....
Scott Pryde
Expert
Can the Dragons take him as an "assistant" coach please?
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Not a bad line up there but two Clinton Schifcofski's?? Maybe as John says, give Todd Carney a go if not as a player, then waterboy manning the bubbler.
Sandgroper
Roar Rookie
Gold work Nat - Peptide-PaulG should be Captain tho' ... based on his experience .. hahahah Given he works with the Fox/9 Sports team ... no I won't start that one ... hahahahahahaha Outstanding work by the comedy duo of Buzz Too-Manyyear and the NRL-Ventriliquist team- these blokes are kiddin' aren't they? They whinge and moan about how to 'defend' NRL image and market share from competing sports and then they clown themselves out with this stuff. Fantastic. Couldn't script this better as a path to derision and scorn by any standard -- public or commercial. I'd be interested to see what the NRL may have decided if Flanno and Peptide Paul played for the Storm ... hahhahahaha ...they would have been rubbed out for 10 years and lose 3 years of premiership points hahahahahah Mind you I 'spose it's only fair he goes to Crony-ulla, they've recently lost a chairman to drug charges so they may be a bit light-on for a reliable supplier ... hahahahahahahaha AFL must love these blokes I've believe they've just texted Flanno and DessieH for Stevie Dank's phone number ... hahahahahaha
John
Guest
Life's tough when Todd Carney can't get a gig in your line up.
Nat
Roar Guru
Well the NRL are looking at expansion and no one would want Flanno associated with their team so here's one for Sports Entertainment industry. 1, Ben Barba 2, Sandor Earl 3, Kirisome Auva'a 4, Adam McDougall 5, Clinton Schifcofske 6, Corey Norman 7, Jarrod Mullen 8, Martin Kennedy 9, Anthony Watts 10, Rodney Howe 11, Reni Maitua 12, Anthony Topau 13, Paul Gallen 14, Wayne Richards 15, Jessie Bromwich 16, Clinton Schifcofski 17, Kevin Proctor Coach - Shane Flannagan High performance trainer - Steven Danks Halves Coordinator - Joey Johns CEO - Damien Keogh
Big Daddy
Guest
Geez, Sammys summation sounds more real every day.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
(In my completely uneducated opinion) Sandor’s gotta be ripe for a lawsuit when he retires. This is plenty more ammunition.