Canterbury Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett addresses Kyle Flanagan’s future

The Kyle Flanagan looks about over and done with for the 2022 NRL season.

That’s because Canterbury Bulldogs head coach Trent Barrett has revealed just how hard Flanagan is working during the off-season to learn the combinations ahead of the new season.

“He will be given every opportunity. One thing you can’t fault with Kyle is his toughness and competitiveness,” Barrett told the Daily Telegraph.

“He still has some things to learn as do all our players. His attitude has been really good.”

With the halfback coming under fire during Canterbury Bulldogs’ shocking 2021 season – where they finished bottom – it was previously reported by Fox Sports that the Bulldogs were willing to pay Flanagan almost $500,000 to play reserve grade as the club have failed to offload him.

The paper also has reported that no club has been willing to put in a serious for the 23-year-old, so Canterbury are set to keep him on a reported salary of $450,000.

However, that has been vociferously dismissed by Canterbury General Manager Phil ‘Gus’ Gould who tweeted this in response: “This report is totally incorrect. Kyle Flanagan has never been offered to other clubs. Kyle has never been asked to seek another club. As for starting the year in reserve grade, Kyle is one of 4 NRL quality half-backs on our roster. We haven’t played a trial game yet.”

This report is totally incorrect. Kyle Flanagan has never been offered to other clubs. Kyle has never been asked to seek another club. As for starting the year in reserve grade, Kyle is one of 4 NRL quality half-backs on our roster. We haven’t played a trial game yet. https://t.co/cSLAT1rRH8

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) January 10, 2022

Though Flanagan isn’t expected to start as first-choice halfback for the Bulldogs in the opening rounds of the 2022 NRL season, Jake Averillo and Matt Burton and untried and untested in the halves together, so another combination may well be struck if the Bulldogs do not start the season too well.

He was offered to UK top flight sides back in the summer after playing the opening nine games of the 2021 campaign before being substituted by coach Barrett during a defeat to St George Illawarra Dragons.

Flanagan was subsequently dropped for the next six games before being recalled, but was soon forced out of the side once more as the Bulldogs finished bottom of the NRL after winning just four games all year.

The 23-year-old has made almost 50 appearances in rugby league’s most impressive competition, having played a key role in the Sydney Roosters’ 2020 season, but has found chances limited at Canterbury since then.