They say what separates the best players is their ability to handle pressure.
While Kyle Flanagan has a long way to go, he showed that the signs were good at Cronulla Sharks training on Thursday morning.
Flanagan, one of the stars of Cronulla’s dominant under-20s team last year, played five-eighth alongside premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend as Matt Moylan sat out an intense scrimmage at Cronulla High School.
After training, Townsend and Flanagan were given the chance to kick goals from the sideline. The prize – to spare the rest of the squad “punishment” as directed by first grade coach Shane Flanagan.
While Townsend made his with ease, the younger Flanagan had to block out plenty of distraction from senior teammates including Wade Graham and Andrew Fifita.
But, as expected, Flanagan handled the pressure.
The squad were in good spirits as they continue to build towards their season opener against North Queensland in Townsville on March 9.
The 19-year-old Flanagan is expected to feature for Cronulla alongside a number of the club’s young guns in their opening trial match against Manly at Southern Cross Group Stadium on February 17.