‘It looks like that opportunity will come next week’: Kyle Flanagan set to make NRL return in new role

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo says Kyle Flanagan is “more than likely” to earn a recall for the King’s Birthday clash after Reed Mahoney failed to finish Sunday’s loss to the Roosters.

Flanagan didn’t record a try assist in the halves across the opening eight rounds of the NRL season and was dropped to NSW Cup, where he’s been playing dummy-half.

He’s embraced the new role and has helped the Bulldogs move to the top of the table in that competition.

Flanagan made 38 tackles and recorded just one miss in Sunday’s 20-6 win over the Roosters and will likely return to first grade, with skipper Mahoney set to miss next Monday’s match after failing a head injury assessment.

Mahoney copped an accidental knee to the head while making a tackle against the Roosters in Gosford and missed the second half.

It’s opened the door for Flanagan to force his way back into first grade just weeks after he was linked with a move to the Sea Eagles.

“Kyle is playing 80 minutes regularly for us week to week in NSW Cup,” Ciraldo said.

“He’s been working hard on playing hooker and has really bought into transforming into that position. It’s more than likely that he’ll get an opportunity there.

“We spoke to him last week and told him what our thoughts were over the next few weeks of trying to give him an opportunity because he’s been working hard. It looks like that opportunity will come next week.”

The Bulldogs desperately need a win now as they sit in 15th, but there were some positive signs in Sunday’s loss, with Blues pair Tevita Pangai Jr Junior and Josh Addo-Carr both playing well, while rookie Khaled Rajab had some nice moments.

The Lebanese international gained valuable experience at the World Cup last year and could be a point of difference off the bench for the Bulldogs given he can play so many positions.

“He can play fullback, he can play five-eighth. Khaled is just a footy player,” Ciraldo said.

“He loves getting on and scheming and asking questions of the opposition.

“We’re really excited about what he can do in the future and that’s why we were really keen to get him a game today. I thought he offered some things at the back of the game.”