‘Frustrating’: Dragons halfback opens up on reasons for leaving Red V

Rabbitohs recruit Jonah Glover says he feels for Kyle Flanagan over the continued criticism of the St George Illawarra halfback’s selection, but said he had to move on to fulfil his own ambition of wearing the No.7 jersey in the NRL.

Glover will link up with South Sydney at the end of the season on a two-year deal. The 22-year-old has been a standout for the Dragons in the NSW Cup, but his path to first grade is blocked by Flanagan and Lyhkan King-Togia.

The Red V also have Lachlan Ilias on their books, while cronulla playmaker Daniel Atkinson will join the club next year.

“The Dragons said they didn’t have any more space in their roster for me next year,” Glover said. “They were happy for me to take the opportunity at the Rabbitohs and the Rabbitohs gave me a two-year deal, so I thought that was a better opportunity.

“It’s frustrating I’m not playing [NRL], but I’m just trying to do as much as I can in [NSW] Cup. Obviously Wayne [Bennett] and Souths like what I do, so I’m pretty excited to see if I can make the next step in South Sydney colours.”

Glover said he felt for Flanagan – the son of Dragons coach Shane – given the recent publicity over his position in the team.

“Obviously, it’s not the best thing when one of your mates in your team is getting all the criticism he is getting,” he said. “It’s sad to see, but I’m glad he played well on the weekend and showed some of the critics that he can build a combination and drive a team to a good win.”

If Glover is able to make his NRL debut at the Rabbitohs, it will be a reward for persistence. He won the Hastings Deering Colts player of the year award while at Brisbane Tigers for the best player in the Queensland Cup.

The halfback then moved south to the Bulldogs, where he struggled with homesickness and suffered a turf toe injury that wiped him out for most of the 2023 season, but stuck it out and came back in time to be part of Canterbury’s Jersey Flegg-winning side.

Despite piloting the Dragons’ NSW Cup side to second spot on the ladder, the club didn’t offer him a contract for next season.

“I was just stuck behind Kyle and with Daniel Atkinson coming next year, they’ve still got Lachie Ilias here, there just wasn’t a spot in the top 30 for me,” he said.

“To have that spot and opportunity for the next couple of years, I had to move on and do what’s best with my football career. That’s a big step, putting pen to paper, and the next step is playing first grade.”

Glover has a big chance of becoming Souths’ starting half next year. Super League import Lewis Dodd has made just three appearances this season, the injured Bud Sullivan is technically only at the club while on loan from Wests Tigers, Cody Walker is in the twilight of his career, while Jamie Humphreys is still establishing himself as a first-grader.

“Jonah has shown through his discussions with us, and his performances on the field, that he is ready to take the next step in his career and play in the NRL,” said Rabbitohs’ head of recruitment and retention Mark Ellison He is extremely quick on his feet, very elusive, a solid defender and a try-scoring, goal-kicking half.”

Freddy not ready for Kangaroos role

Brad Fittler has pulled out of the Kangaroos coaching race. The former NSW coach and Channel Nine commentator informed the ARL Commission that his focus is on his media commitments and a new role in participation at the NRL rather than taking on the Australian job.

“When the role came about and I started thinking and planning and I just realised that this is probably for someone else at the moment,” Fittler told 2GB on Monday night.

“I agonised (over the decision) absolutely. What an incredible opportunity. But I didn’t think I could do it justice. That’s why I didn’t want to commit to it. It needs someone with a bit of time.”

Fittler had long been considered the front-runner to take over from Mal Meninga following his announcement as the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears.

Fittler, 53, had previously spoken of his desire to lead the Kangaroos on their end of season Ashes tour of the UK, the first since 2003.

The ARLC had been prepared to rubberstamp Fittler’s rise to the national role in coming weeks but will now turn to other candidates. Cameron Smith - Australia’s most-capped player in history, and former Broncos and Queensland coach Kevin Walters have been mentioned previously as Kangaroos coaching options.

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