Shane Flanagan admits there were times he thought he wouldn’t come back.
Banned for one year after the ASADA investigation at the end of 2013, Flanagan faced a number of lonely, dark days wondering if he’d be able to come back and rebuild the Cronulla Sharks.
Their playing roster had been left deflated and devastated by the scandal. Captain Paul Gallen said he had got to the point where he didn’t care about footy anymore.
Only two seasons later, the Cronulla Sharks have been crowned premiers for the first time in the 50-year history. What can’t be underestimated is the influence Flanagan had on the club to take it from the brink of disaster to the pinnacle of rugby league.
“There was times there that I said ‘this is not me’ or ‘why me’ and all that sort of stuff, feeling sorry for myself,” Flanagan said.
“I probably could have walked away from the game, gone back and done some plumbing. I had a decent business there.
“I did have those moments but I knew what sort of person I was and what I could achieve and what I wanted to do in the game.”
Flanagan, a veteran of 78 first grade appearances as a player for St George, Western Suburbs and Parramatta, only went into coaching thanks to the encouragement of rugby league legends Ron Massey and Mick Cronin who were on the coaching staff at the Eels in the early ‘90s.
As well as the ASADA investigation steeling his desire to return, his years as a battling player and lower grade coach helped shape him into the man he has become – a mate to some of his players, a father figure to others.
“I wasn’t silly enough to think I’d be sitting here today but I had faith in the club, faith in the board and faith in the playing group that I’d assembled that we’d give it a crack. And with a bit of luck we’re sitting here today,” he said.
“I’m just really proud of many, many people within the organisation. The playing group, my staff, the board, all the fans, our sponsors. We all know our sponsors could have walked away but... we are here today, champions.”
A champion team, led by a champion coach.
