Flanagan, Stuart

Stuart FLANAGAN [Player Stats]


+ Submit additional information or a correction to this player




Flanagan signs with the Raiders
Tue April 22, 2008
Source: www.raiders.com.au

Exciting young Wests Tigers hooker Stuart Flanagan will be wearing green in 2009, after agreeing to a new three year deal with the Raiders today.

Flanagan, aged 21, is originally from the NSW town of Cooma not too far from the ACT, and returns to his home region after three years with the Wests Tigers.

Before that he played for the Western Suburbs Magpies in their junior teams, in both the Harold Matthew's and SG Ball competitions.

Flanagan said he's looking forward to playing with the Raiders next year, but said he would remained focused on the Tigers 2008 campaign until the end of the season.

"It's exciting to be going down to Canberra next year, they have a lot of good young players and I think there's a bright future there," Flanagan said. "Having said that I'm still committed to the Tigers this year, and I'm looking forward to playing some good footy for them."

Flanagan said he will be looking to further build his career in the national capital, and was excited about playing alongside the likes of Todd Carney and Alan Tongue.

"Todd is a great player and I've played with him and Joe Picker before with the junior kangaroos in 2006," he said. "I haven't met Alan before but from what I hear he's a great leader and a great guy to play with."

Raiders CEO Don Furner said Flanagan's signing was a huge positive for the Club, and he would be a welcome addition to the Raiders in 2009.

"Stuart is a local product who is returning home after establishing himself as a star of the future," Furner said. "We look forward to having him here from the start of next season, and wish him the best of luck for the remainder of 2008."

Furner said Flanagan's signing had continued the Raiders strong association with the country region.

"We like to think we are the country club, and Stuart's signing has further endorsed this fact," Furner said. "It's a great environment in Canberra for the country boys and Stuart should find himself at home with the Raiders."

Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens said Flanagan would be an asset for the Raiders, and wished him the best for the future.

"We wish Stuart all the very best. He has done his apprenticeship at Wests Tigers and he is obviously looking to establish his own first grade career. It was always going to be difficult behind Robbie Farah."

"Stuart has worked hard here and he is a credit to himself and his family."

Flanagan made his debut in 2006 and has played 14 first grade games for the Tigers.

News sent by: www.raiders.com.au


A season to remember for Wests Tigers Young Guns
Thu October 26, 2006
Source: www.weststigers.com.au

Shannon McDonnell, Stuart Flanagan and Ben Jeffery look back on the past 12 months with a wide smile.

Things have moved that fast for these young rugby league players that they have to pause for a moment to think what a rapid progression they have made.

This time last year McDonnell was sitting his HSC exams at Mt Carmel High School in Campbelltown, Flanagan had not long finished playing country football, and Jeffery was looking for more opportunities in his league career.

Today, all three are first grade players with the Wests Tigers and can now add Australian Junior Kangaroos to their growing resume.

The junior Kangaroos, essentially an U20 team, were beaten 48-18 at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne by an open age New Zealand Invitational team that included Wests Tigers players Bronson Harrison and Rangi Chase.

Wests Tigers Recruitment Manager Warren McDonnell wore two hats at the match ? one as a club official and the other, as a proud parent.

"All of our players did well. They enjoyed the experience and will get far more out of it than the Kiwi side. It will hold them in good stead for the future,'' McDonnell said.

"The Kiwis were just too big, too strong and some of their players were much older than our boys. The good news for Wests Tigers was that none of our players were injured.''

The McDonnell family enjoyed the occasion, as did Shannon. Twelve months ago, he was busy studying. Don't forget this was the same young kid who just weeks earlier, was on standby for the Wests Tigers team for the grand final despite just one first grade game under his belt.

Twelve months on and Shannon has played in a World Club Challenge game, played 14 games for the Wests Tigers, and represented his country. He was also named the Wests Tigers Rookie of the Year.

"It has been a big year," Shannon admits.

"When I look back on it, it has gone pretty quickly but it was slow when I was doing it all. It has been a good, tough year, and a lucky year for me.

"I had a great time in camp in Melbourne. Apart from getting to know the rest of the boys, we also had a training session with the senior Australian team, followed by an opposed game of us against them.

"Just to see how professional they are and what they do really opens your eyes. Ricky Stuart also spoke to us and a few of the senior players were on hand to present our jerseys.

"I just want to go on with it from here. Now that I have had a taste of what you need to do to get into the Australian squad, it motivates you even more.''

As for Flanagan, he thought his league career was finished this time last year. After playing SG Ball and Jersey Flegg for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Flanagan returned home to Cooma to look after his sick mum.

Upon returning, the doors were all but closed for him at the Magpies, so he finished the season playing for the Narellan Jets in the Group 6 competition.

After one game for the Magpies in Premier League, a chat with Warren McDonnell led to him signing on as a Wests Tigers Apprentice, a program introduced for 2006 to fast track the careers of potential first graders.

Flanagan bided his time, playing in the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Premier League team. He was then called up to make his first grade debut for the Wests Tigers in round three to share the hooking duties with another debutante in Isaac De Gois.

By season end, Flanagan had a NSW U19 jersey in the cupboard and played seven games for the Wests Tigers. He can now add the Junior Kangaroos jumper to his collection.

"It was a bit different pulling on that Kangaroos jersey. Just to wear it was a great feeling, especially when you think of the players who have pulled the jersey on in the past," Flanagan said.

"It has been an awesome ride. To go from playing bush football, to part-time training, to getting a taste of first grade, and then to pull on a junior Australian Kangaroos jersey has been pretty special.''

Jeffery, too, has to pinch himself about the past 12 months. Despite taking out the SG Ball player of the year award, limited opportunities in the St George-Illawarra Jersey Flegg side saw Jeffery accept an offer to come to Concord Oval.

Placed in the Wests Tigers full-time squad, Jeffery proved to be a revelation for the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers in Premier League, scoring more than 20 tries.

His good form led to a NSW U19 jersey and eventually, a chance to make his first grade debut with the Wests Tigers in the round 21 match against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, where he went on to score a try.

"It has been a good year for me," Jeffery said.

"To cap it off with a junior Australian Kangaroos jersey was a good feeling. I enjoyed the experience.''

As for the future, all three are locked away for the next few years with the Wests Tigers.

"People have got to remember that all three can still play Jersey Flegg next year,'' added Warren McDonnell.

"They have come on in leaps and bound and we are very pleased with them.''

News sent by: www.weststigers.com.au

Tue April 4, 2006
• New contracts for rising Wests Tigers stars
  

====================================================================================================== 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Wests Tigers 4 games; 1 tries, 4 points. [View] Round 4 [07 Apr 08] L 8-30 v Panthers (H). [DH] [View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] L 24-30 v Raiders (A). [BE] [View] Round 6 [20 Apr 08] W 30-10 v Rabbitohs (H). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 8 [03 May 08] L 22-34 v Broncos (H). [BE] ====================================================================================================== 2007 VB NSWRL Premier League Balmain Tigers 1 tries, 4 points. ====================================================================================================== 2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Wests Tigers 4 games; 2 tries, 8 points. [View] Round 16 [01 Jul 07] W 22-16 v Raiders (A). [BE] [View] Round 17 [06 Jul 07] W 43-26 v Panthers (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 18 [13 Jul 07] L 4-34 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] L 16-28 v Warriors (H). [BE] ====================================================================================================== 2006 VB NSWRL Premier League Balmain Tigers 7 tries, 28 points. ====================================================================================================== 2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Wests Tigers 7 games; [View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] L 10-26 v Warriors (H). [BE] [View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] W 30-28 v Storm (H). [DH] [View] Round 5 [07 Apr 06] L 12-32 v Cowboys (A). [DH] [View] Round 13 [04 Jun 06] W 24-14 v Cowboys (H). [BE] [View] Round 14 [09 Jun 06] L 12-16 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE] [View] Round 17 [02 Jul 06] L 10-32 v Bulldogs (H). [BE] [View] Round 23 [13 Aug 06] L 18-19 v Raiders (H). [BE] ======================================================================================================

Advanced Search