NRL News: 'A brilliant opportunity' - Cheika, Flanagan put hand up for Dragons gig, Lodge leaving Roosters

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is keen to try his hand at the NRL and with St George Illawarra on the lookout for a new voice to give them a fresh start, the stars could be aligning.

However, there is reportedly angst at board level at the club over such a bold move in the wake of their decision to sack Anthony Griffin mid-season and former Dragons international Jason Ryles turning down their offer to take over as coach.

Cheika, who is busy preparing the Argentina rugby union team for the upcoming World Cup in France, is not actively campaigning for the role but would be open to a conversation with the Dragons if they were interested.

“It’s not an ambition – but it would be a brilliant opportunity,” he said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. “If a rugby league team thought I was the right person to get what they want, then I’d definitely be open to talking to them. It’s no secret I have an interest in league and coached the game before. It’s really appealing. But, if it’s to happen, the stars would need to align.”

Michael Cheika. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Cheika guided Lebanon’s league side to the World Cup quarter-finals last year and is off contract after his commitments with the Pumas are over at the end of this year.

“It’s a leap of faith in any circumstance but many of the things that are most important in coaching are around people, alignment, direction, strategy and recruitment,” Cheika said. “There’s a line of continuity in all sports, but particularly these two codes.”

Former Sharks premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan has publicly voiced his interest in the Dragons post for the first time on 2GB. 

“I haven’t had any communication with the Dragons, my manager has. I’ll just let it unfold, that’s what you have managers for,” Flanagan said. 

“Hopefully something happens and it gets done, but at this stage, that’s where I’ll leave it. 

“I think I’d need to talk to their board and their CEO and they’d have a lot of questions for me and I’d have a lot of questions of them and we need to go through that process, definitely for sure.

“Obviously Jason had some concerns when he went there then pulled out at the last minute, he got a good offer to go to Melbourne.”

He is currently Manly’s assistant under Anthony Seibold and performed a similar role three years ago at the Dragons when Paul McGregor was at the helm.

Shane Flanagan. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. Hopefully it doesn’t take too long if it’s going to happen. Over the next week or two I’ll be able to tell you what’s happening.

“I don’t think I need to go through an interview process. If the Dragons are interested, we’ll chat.”

Flanagan, who has also worked as a recruitment consultant at St George Illawarra, was banned twice by the NRL during his time at Cronulla – firstly for the peptide scandal which engulfed the club and then for breaching the conditions of his original suspension. 

Lodge likely to leave Roosters due to JWH deal

Sydney Roosters enforcer Matt Lodge is on the hunt for a new club in 2024, saying coach Trent Robinson has apologised to him after a contract extension became unlikely.

Lodge joined the Roosters last year, and signed a 12-month deal for 2023 with one eye on a long-term contract if veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves retired at the end of the year.

But Lodge concedes he is now playing for a new deal elsewhere after Waerea-Hargreaves last month signed a one-year extension.

The Roosters have also poached explosive Penrith prop Spencer Leniu from next season, while Lodge remains unlikely to displace State of Origin forward Lindsay Collins in the depth chart.

It leaves the 28-year-old looking for a fourth club in as many seasons, having also turned out for Brisbane and the Warriors since 2021.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“I’m not sure, obviously Jared’s going to play on now,” Lodge said on Tuesday. “I probably stayed this year, hoping (or) assuming that there was a long-term thing, but things have changed. I’m all good with just riding the wave.

“I know they were trying and … I’ve had a chat with Robbo about that and he was a little bit apologetic.

“That’s the game, it’s a business. It’s probably going to be a little bit hard to stay here.

“I don’t love floating around and bouncing around but it is what it is.”

Lodge is only averaging 33 minutes per game and is managing just 80 metres running, his lowest mark since the 2015 season with Wests Tigers.

“Lindsay and Jared are doing well and they’re the starting props, so I’m probably a bit limited with minutes … at the moment,” he said.

“But I’ve had a couple of injuries as well … I’m looking to just play some more consistent, better footy in the weeks ahead.”

Staggs content to bide his time for Origin recall

Kotoni Staggs gave Brad Fittler a timely reminder of his State of Origin credentials in Brisbane’s defeat of Cronulla but the centre is content to wait for a NSW recall and prioritise premiership success at the Broncos.

Staggs scored a try and set one up as the Broncos toppled fellow premiership hopefuls Cronulla on Saturday night to consolidate their place inside the NRL’s top four.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters declared Staggs’ performance his best in recent times and it comes with exquisite timing, since the Blues’ loss in the series opener will give Fittler cause to consider changes for the must-win second game at Suncorp Stadium.

Latrell Mitchell is already set to replace Stephen Crichton at left centre on his return from injury and incumbent right centre Tom Trbojevic could also come out, given a concussion will sideline him between now and Game II.

Staggs was backed by his coach for an Origin recall earlier in the week and has one game of prior experience. 

He made his debut in the series opener last year but a shoulder injury spoiled the occasion and he was not considered for the next two games after recovering.

While Staggs believes he has unfinished business in the Origin arena, he is content to put a NSW recall on the backburner.

“I’m happy to just chill and wait,” he told AAP.

“My main focus this year is to play my best footy for the Broncos and win a premiership. Origin’s always going to be there but premierships don’t come easy. 

“If Origin comes, Origin comes.

“Hopefully one day I find myself back in that team.

“If it’s a year, or two years away, I’ll just keep pushing myself to go better and hopefully get that spot again.”

Staggs has flown under the radar in the Origin conversation this season despite consistent performances for a club on the rise.

The 24-year-old is averaging more run metres than in any previous season (125 per game) and has scored eight tries across 14 games – three more than he scored in 23 appearances last year.

“I think I’m just wanting to get more involved, get my hands on the ball a bit earlier,” Staggs said of his upswing in form.

“I put my performance this year down to my defence. I wanted my defence to be top-key.

“I know my attack is going to be there no matter what but I just wanted to focus on my defence in this pre-season. I think it’s shown.”