NRL
16 hours ago
Parker slams Dragons and Young's sacking of Ennis
By SEN
The Dragons “tossed up a bunch of garbage” when they confirmed Shane Flanagan had been sacked as the club’s head coach, according to Corey Parker.
And the SENQ Breakfast host has doubled down on his criticism of the club after interim coach Dean Young was given the green light to dismiss Michael Ennis.
After an 11-game losing streak, the board severed ties with their coach and head of football, Ben Haran, on Monday with Ennis following on just 24 hours later.
Parker is alarmed at the level of power gifted to a man who is yet to be handed a permanent role.
"Off the back of the Dragons giving Dean Young the interim coach role he thought it'd be a good idea for, for him to make Mick Ennis, not there anymore," Parker said on Wednesday morning.
"That's garbage. Seriously.
"He's been there for five months and he's got a great rapport with the boys.
"Don't you think that that's strange that he can be appointed head coach and also have the reins to move someone on?
"I've got no doubt Dean Young is trying to angle in to take on a head coach role."
It's not the only part of the sacking saga that has Parker questioning the conduct of the Dragons.
On Monday, club chairman Andrew Lancaster and CEO Tim Watsford announced the change in leadership in front of select media who had been told they would be limited in how much they could ask – it was one question per journalist in unprecedented scenes.
“The press conference itself was comical,” Parker said on SENQ Breakfast. “It was an opportunity for the Dragons to say this hasn’t worked, the marriage with Shane Flanagan hasn’t worked and we’re sorry for that but here’s some clarity moving forward. Yet it was quite the opposite.
“From a journalist’s point of view, you’ve driven an hour to get there and you’re only allowed to ask one question? Were dealing with a professional organisation that beats their chest that says they’re a big club, and they love their fans, and they’re sorry and all this garbage and they toss that out?
“Are they just appeasing the fans at the moment? Surely, when you’re trying to attract other players to come to the club you want clarity on the coaching situation?”
The Dragons sit dead last on the ladder will play the Roosters this weekend in the annual Anzac Day clash.




