Selection in the Emerging Blues squad earlier this month was just the icing on the cake for Kyle Flanagan’s calendar year.
The resume is booming and quite impressive for a player with hopes to break into the NRL team on a permanent basis. NSW Under-20s Origin captain, Intrust Super NSW Residents captain, Intrust Super Premiership halfback of the year, a Grand Final appearance and an NRL debut have all been ticked off by Flanagan since June.
He recently re-signed with the Sharks that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2021 season, and has spoken of his desire to play consistent first grade in 2019. His father Shane believes he’s physically ready for the NRL, but has plenty of options including Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Matt Moylan and Flanagan himself to potentially play in the halves.
Flanagan is an organising halfback that ran most of the ball-work sessions in the NSW representative teams. He’s a natural leader that had an outstanding season for the Jets last year that is all a part of the transition into the NRL.
More recently he was picked by Brad Fittler in the Emerging Blues, highlighting his potential.
Given he’s a Cronulla junior and the club is in Flanagan’s blood he will be one to keep an eye on should he pull on the Sharks’ jersey more often in 2019.
