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Guest
Guest
FLANAGAN NO LONGER A STRANGER AT WESTS TIGERS
By Wayne Cousins
Monday, 15 March 2010
Mark Flanagan was a stranger to many when he first arrived on the doorstep of the Wests Tigers.
Little had been known of Flanagan when pre-season training started in November. The son of former Great Britain Test player Terry Flanagan, Mark joined Wigan Warriors in 2007 from Bradford Bulls.
He played for the England Academy international team against the Australian Schoolboys in 2006 and only played a handful of top grade games for Wigan in the English Super League.
Wests Tigers Recruitment Manager Warren McDonnell described Flanagan at the time of his signing as “very raw with plenty of improvement in him”
Former premiership winning Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards considered the decision by his Wigand team-mate to move to Australia on a one year deal a gamble but believed he would do well.
Even Englishman Gareth Ellis didn’t know too much about Flanagan.
“I was the same as all of the Australian people in terms of knowing about Mark Flanagan. He sort of made his impact on the English Super League towards the back end of last year so it was while I was here,’’ Ellis said.
“I did a bit of a dig around back home in asking a few people about him and everyone I spoke to had good words to say about Mark, particularly the England players during the Four Nations.
“A few of his Wigand team-mates said he would do well in Australia. To be in the reckoning this early is a great achievement and it is now about staying there.”
It seems the ‘gamble’ is starting to pay off for Flanagan, nick-named ‘Flash’ by his new team-mates. Flanagan will tonight make his NRL debut off the interchange bench for Wests Tigers against Manly at the Sydney Football Stadium in the opening round of the Telstra Premiership.
“It means the world to me. Coming over from England, it was important for me to get to know the players and get stuck into the training,’’ Flanagan said.
“I am really glad to have made the 17 and hopefully I will get some decent game time and do alright against Manly.”
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens said he had been more than impressed by Flanagan’s work ethic. Sheens is using Flanagan in a utility role at this stage.
“He has really impressed me with his attitude,’’ Sheens said.
“Mark is a great defender and he will bring that off the bench. He carries the ball well too. In the middle of the game against a side like Manly, particularly with their size and in the middle of the rock, his defense will be very important.
“He might be a utility but I see him as more of a back-rower.”
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah was another player asking questions as to who Mark Flanagan was.
“We didn’t know too much about him before he came,’’ Farah admitted.
“From day one, he came in and worked hard. He is one of those boys that everyone likes playing alongside because of his work ethic. He will add plenty of enthusiasm when he comes on to the field and will add spark to our team.”
Like Sheens, Ellis believes Flanagan will develop into a fine second-rower but says the ‘utility tag’ has helped him secure a position against Manly,
“To be tagged a utility early in his career is a great asset, especially when you want to make that break and get into the team,’’ Ellis said.
“It was the same for me when I was coming through. I was always a back-rower and an opportunity came up in the centers and there it was. That was my opportunity and it is the same for Mark. The attributes he has got I feel will see him end up as a second-rower.
“What has impressed me the most about Mark is how he trains? It is always a good marker and is normally a reflection as to how they play as well.
“His fitness levels are right up there and his attitude is great. He is one of those players you look forward to playing alongside.
“Mark has settled in a lot quicker than I did in terms of getting to know everyone. He is a hit with the other boys.
“They all get on with him and like him and that’s down to the fact the club has gone out of its way to make him feel welcome. He has been able to settle in well.”
As for the man himself, he can’t hide his delight. To make it even more memorable, Wests Tigers have brought his parents over from England for the game.
“Making my NRL debut means the world to me,’’ Flanagan said.
“I am really glad to have made the 17 and hopefully I will get some decent game time and do alright on Monday night.
“Everyone at Wests Tigers has been great to me – from the players, the coaching staff to the people in the office. They have made me feel really welcome and at home.
“The professionalism of the club is something I have not experienced back over in England.”
By Wayne Cousins
Monday, 15 March 2010
Mark Flanagan was a stranger to many when he first arrived on the doorstep of the Wests Tigers.
Little had been known of Flanagan when pre-season training started in November. The son of former Great Britain Test player Terry Flanagan, Mark joined Wigan Warriors in 2007 from Bradford Bulls.
He played for the England Academy international team against the Australian Schoolboys in 2006 and only played a handful of top grade games for Wigan in the English Super League.
Wests Tigers Recruitment Manager Warren McDonnell described Flanagan at the time of his signing as “very raw with plenty of improvement in him”
Former premiership winning Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards considered the decision by his Wigand team-mate to move to Australia on a one year deal a gamble but believed he would do well.
Even Englishman Gareth Ellis didn’t know too much about Flanagan.
“I was the same as all of the Australian people in terms of knowing about Mark Flanagan. He sort of made his impact on the English Super League towards the back end of last year so it was while I was here,’’ Ellis said.
“I did a bit of a dig around back home in asking a few people about him and everyone I spoke to had good words to say about Mark, particularly the England players during the Four Nations.
“A few of his Wigand team-mates said he would do well in Australia. To be in the reckoning this early is a great achievement and it is now about staying there.”
It seems the ‘gamble’ is starting to pay off for Flanagan, nick-named ‘Flash’ by his new team-mates. Flanagan will tonight make his NRL debut off the interchange bench for Wests Tigers against Manly at the Sydney Football Stadium in the opening round of the Telstra Premiership.
“It means the world to me. Coming over from England, it was important for me to get to know the players and get stuck into the training,’’ Flanagan said.
“I am really glad to have made the 17 and hopefully I will get some decent game time and do alright against Manly.”
Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens said he had been more than impressed by Flanagan’s work ethic. Sheens is using Flanagan in a utility role at this stage.
“He has really impressed me with his attitude,’’ Sheens said.
“Mark is a great defender and he will bring that off the bench. He carries the ball well too. In the middle of the game against a side like Manly, particularly with their size and in the middle of the rock, his defense will be very important.
“He might be a utility but I see him as more of a back-rower.”
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah was another player asking questions as to who Mark Flanagan was.
“We didn’t know too much about him before he came,’’ Farah admitted.
“From day one, he came in and worked hard. He is one of those boys that everyone likes playing alongside because of his work ethic. He will add plenty of enthusiasm when he comes on to the field and will add spark to our team.”
Like Sheens, Ellis believes Flanagan will develop into a fine second-rower but says the ‘utility tag’ has helped him secure a position against Manly,
“To be tagged a utility early in his career is a great asset, especially when you want to make that break and get into the team,’’ Ellis said.
“It was the same for me when I was coming through. I was always a back-rower and an opportunity came up in the centers and there it was. That was my opportunity and it is the same for Mark. The attributes he has got I feel will see him end up as a second-rower.
“What has impressed me the most about Mark is how he trains? It is always a good marker and is normally a reflection as to how they play as well.
“His fitness levels are right up there and his attitude is great. He is one of those players you look forward to playing alongside.
“Mark has settled in a lot quicker than I did in terms of getting to know everyone. He is a hit with the other boys.
“They all get on with him and like him and that’s down to the fact the club has gone out of its way to make him feel welcome. He has been able to settle in well.”
As for the man himself, he can’t hide his delight. To make it even more memorable, Wests Tigers have brought his parents over from England for the game.
“Making my NRL debut means the world to me,’’ Flanagan said.
“I am really glad to have made the 17 and hopefully I will get some decent game time and do alright on Monday night.
“Everyone at Wests Tigers has been great to me – from the players, the coaching staff to the people in the office. They have made me feel really welcome and at home.
“The professionalism of the club is something I have not experienced back over in England.”
