Ben Hornby in focus as Dragons weigh next move after Kyle Flanagan call
ben hornby is now at the center of the Dragons’ coaching picture after Dean Young made his first major selection move as caretaker coach on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 ET. Young benched halfback Kyle Flanagan for Saturday’s Anzac Day clash with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium, just one day after Shane Flanagan’s departure from the club. The decision has sharpened the focus on ben hornby as the closest challenger for the long-term job.
Young makes an early statement
Young, named caretaker coach on Monday, moved quickly after a turbulent 48 hours at St George Illawarra. Shane Flanagan, who had overseen an 0-7 start as head coach, had already left, while football boss Ben Haran and assistant coach Michael Ennis also departed.
The immediate call was to drop Kyle Flanagan to the No. 18 jersey, with highly rated Kade Reed set for his NRL debut in the No. 7 jersey. Ryan Couchman will replace the suspended Jaydn Su’A in the back row, while Valentine Holmes has kept his place despite a difficult outing in the loss to South Sydney.
Ben Hornby remains the key rival
Young’s decision will be read as a clear sign he is prepared to make hard calls while he fights to turn the role into a full-time appointment. He said he has strong views on where the club stands and pointed to his long history at the Dragons as a player and assistant coach.
The coaching race, however, is not his alone. ben hornby is the closest challenger to Young’s hopes of landing the job on a permanent basis, and that makes every move from here especially significant.
Young has also brought in support from his broader coaching background, having previously worked with the North Queensland Cowboys and the NSW Blues before giving up his role with Laurie Daley’s State of Origin side to focus fully on the Dragons.
Why the Flanagan move matters
Kyle Flanagan’s demotion carries extra weight because he had been brought to the club as a utility under his father. His return to the NRL picture came after the exits of Junior Amone and Ben Hunt, but he has struggled to meet expectations.
Young said he spoke to Flanagan about the reasons for the change and described their relationship as strong. Still, the selection is the first major marker of how he intends to run the side.
What happens next
The Anzac Day clash with the Roosters now becomes more than a matchday test. It is also an early referendum on Young’s authority, his selections and the direction of the Dragons, with ben hornby watching from the coaching race as the club decides who should take over next.
