The St George Illawarra Dragons were compelled to investigate and issue a public clarification after post-try celebrations by several players sparked controversy, with reports suggesting they may have been aimed at teammate Kyle Flanagan.
Flanagan’s role in the team has remained a hot topic throughout the NRL season, with ongoing speculation and scrutiny surrounding his performances.
The debate intensified following the Dragons’ recent loss to the Raiders, prompting rival coach Ricky Stuart to publicly defend Flanagan.
Adding fuel to the fire, The Sydney Morning Herald journalist Danny Weidler reported on Sunday that an on-field gesture, a ‘burger’ sign made by players after scoring had sparked allegations of a bullying campaign within the team.
MORE NRL: Absolute failure': Des Hasler set to exit Gold Coast Titans
According to Weidler, sources close to the Dragons playing group claimed the sign was meant to label someone as a ‘Derrick’.
However, Dragons CEO Tim Watsford strongly denied this interpretation.
In an interview with the Herald, and separately to The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read, Watsford stated the gesture is a “term of endearment” and described it as an inside joke that only the players would truly understand.
Meanwhile, veteran NRL journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield added further context on NRL 360, saying he had contacted Damien Cook’s agent, who then reached out to the Dragons hooker for clarification.
“He insists, and he did one too, it’s an in-house gee-up thing,” Rothfield said.
Despite the clarification, the incident has only deepened the scrutiny surrounding Kyle Flanagan’s position at the club. NRL 360 co-host Braith Anasta also weighed in on the claims, expressing skepticism.
“Very hard to believe,” Anasta said.
As the Dragons aim to steer clear of internal division, the club remains under the spotlight over how it manages team dynamics and media speculation.