With Manly Sea Eagles assistant coach Shane Flanagan already planning his future at the St George Illawarra Dragons, is his involvement in the two sides meeting a conflict of interest?
Flanagan was announced as the Dragons' new coach for the 2024 season two months ago and will face his future side for the first time since inking the deal this weekend.
The 2016-Premiership winning coach has been the Sea Eagles' top-ranking assistant this year as the side’s attacking coach, possessing a wealth of insider knowledge as a result.
SEN’s Joel Caine has aired his concerns about Flanagan maintaining his role at Manly despite agreeing to coach elsewhere and how it differs from other assistant coaches who have gone down a similar path.
“It’s fascinating, I just don’t know how,” Caine said on SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“I find this scenario, Penrith with (Cameron) Ciraldo and (Andrew) Webster very different because (they’d) be on a journey a long time.
“Surely, he has to have some say at the Dragons now, doesn’t he? How do you then participate in this game?
“If you’re seeing things that he hasn’t seen, why would you want to share them with him (Anthony Seibold), when that’s giving them clues for next year.”
Caine also acknowledged how Flanagan staying at the club may have hindered the relationship between him and others on the coaching staff.
“If I’m the coach, like Seibold, I’d be a bit paranoid around, ‘The long we’re here together, I’m sharing with you all my insights and what I’m coming up with’,” Caine added.
“It’s just a human thing… I love Flanno but if any of us signed for any of the other radio stations we’d be marched out immediately.”
The Sea Eagles will be aiming to give captain Daly Cherry-Evans a win in his 300th game for the club this Saturday when they take on the Dragons.