Dragons coaching state of play: Hornby, Arthur the early favourites

Shane Flanagan has been sacked as Dragons coach after a 0–7 start to the NRL season and an eleven-game losing streak stretching back to August last year, leaving the St George Illawarra brass looking for a new man to lead the club’s rebuild.

There are already several contenders for the Red V top job, including both assistant coaches already signed, an old premiership favourite, and a proven NRL coach currently coaching over in Leeds.

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DEAN YOUNG

Young was the original frontunner to replace ousted helmsman Anthony “Hook” Griffin in 2024, before Shane Flanagan sold himself well to the joint venture and claimed the coaching role.

Now, some three years later, Young is being looked at again, though the fact that he’s been Flanagan’s assistant and has been heavily involved in the eleven straight losses will work against him. Should they go with Young, it’ll be because he has experience; assistant work at the Red V, and with Tonga nad the Cowboys over the years.

During the Red V’s loss to the Sea Eagles, he was seen giving the first halftime pep talk, addressing the playing squad before Flanagan in a bid to spark their side into action. Take that as you will, but maybe he’s already been sliding into the role early.

MICHAEL ENNIS

Longer odds are the other assistant coach, Mick Ennis. He’ll be in the mix, maybe for an interim gig, but don’t expect him to take the top spot beyond most other options here. He has previously been a deputy coach at the Raiders, Eels, and Sharks.

“I’m as surprised. I certainly didn’t see it coming,” Ennis said on the Fox League panel in response to reports linking him to the role. “There’s been no conversation around it in all honesty.”

BEN HORNBY

Arguably the most likely to get the gig, in this Sporting Base writer’s eyes, especially because he’s so loved in the Dragons fandom. No.7 in a premiership team is a good chip to have.

Hornby has been working as an NRL second for time now, mainly alongside Wayne Bennett and Jason Demetriou at South Sydney, before he was then appointed interim coach in 2024 when Demetriou was sacked. His time with the Rabbitohs in the tail end of that season was widely regarded as one of the best interim runs in some time now (though Keiran Foran may have him beat if things continue in 2026).

The biggest issue the Red V may face here is if Hornby wants to take a chance in a leading role so early. He’s still only 46 years old and may not want to lead a basketcase club ⁠— even if it’s his old team ⁠— and dampen any chances he may get in his NRL future.

BRAD ARTHUR

Arthur is the best option the Dragons have if they want experience. Right now, he’s over the U.K. coaching the Leeds Rhinos, but has made it very clear he’s eager to return to Australia when possible.

Arthur has been at the top of the list for the Sea Eagles since they sacked Anthony Seibold, though there have been other options that have emerged on the northern beaches in the weeks since.

Arthur is arguably made for the huge job at St George Illawarra, considering how he rebuilt the Eels over the years. Jason Ryles has been going okay in Parramatta since Arthur was sacked, but there are many in NRL circles that still think “BA” should have been given more time ⁠— and credit his foundations for any success the Eels still enjoy.

“Twelve months ago, I would have said I was really desperate to get back, but I feel like I’m a lot more settled now… I’m really comfortable,” Arthur said recently.

“At the moment, yeah, I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business and I’d like to get that opportunity, but when that opportunity comes, I’ll be ready, and I know I’ll be a better coach.”

MATT BALLIN

More unlikely, considering whispers that he’s been tipped for the Manly top gig if they don’t enshrine Keiran Foran officially. He’s a favourite son at Brookvale and would pick the Sea Eagles over the Dragons if that was the decision he made to make.

Ballin has had an impressive apprenticeship; he’s on the Broncos’ staff under Michael Maguire and is an assistant for Queensland. The Dragons could do worse if Manly doesn’t go after him now.

JASON DEMETRIOU 

Demetriou had wanted to lead Papua New Guinea in that expansion development, but he was beaten to the punch for the NRL’s 19th team by silverware-drenched Willie Peters. The ex-Souths boss has long wanted to return to coaching in the NRL.

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MATT KING

King is another Trent Robinson disciple who has been looking to join the top coaching ranks for some time. The Dragons would want to hope he’s more like Craig Fitzgibbon at the Sharks than Adam O’Brien at the Knights, considering how those appointments have gone.

PETER WALLACE

Should the Dragons pick up Wallace, they’d be hoping to replicate the same success that Cameron Ciraldo (the Bulldogs) and Andrew Webster (Warriors) have had since leaving the Penrith nest.

Wallace has been learning from Ivan Cleary since he took up an assistant coaching role post-retirement, and has been involved in the Panthers incredible system from 2018 through the fourpeat to today.

JOHN MORRIS

Morris hasn’t been in the NRL since being sacked by the Sharks in 2021, but has been floating around as a deputy in the league ever since. Right now, he’s been helping Benji Marshall at the resurgent Tigers, where he’s been credited with some of the turnaround.

The 45-year-old’s sacking at Cronulla has long been considered quite strange, considering he made the top eight after $353K was taken out of their salary cap, and he had to play young juniors.

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The club is expected to announce an interim coach sometime this week to start from the Anzac Day clash against the Roosters, before picking a more permanent helmsman in coming months.

The Dragons are also looking for a new Football GM after sacking Ben Haran.