More effective than an interim coach, copping a spray from Craig Bellamy for the good of the team, in training for the next mascot race, admitting his favourite part of the week is getting pain killing injection for an old injury, and not interested in the Dragons permanent coaching job, it’s time for some Rugby League tips and opinion from The Gurgler’s NRL Donkey. The NRL Donkey provides his NRL Donkey’s 2026 NRL Round 8 Expert Tips as well as offers an alternative, slightly unhinged view full of sass of the world of rugby league and beyond for another week.
The NRL Donkey’s 2026 NRL Round 8 Weekly Opinion
So the answer is seven then. Seven straight losses to start the season was enough for the Dragons hierarchy to extinguish the coaching career of Flanagan aka Flanno at St George Illawarra.
First of all I am unaware which half of St George or Illawarra wanted Flanno out more, or for that matter just fans of Dragons in general. I’m presuming that Illawarra fans that used to be Steelers are hard nosed and less likely to put up with bullshit, so probably were harder on Flanno than most would normally be. Although, St George fans that were used to winning would have also found results unacceptable. Although most of those fans were John Howard supporting, Franking Credit machines. Maybe John Howard was consulted. If Donald Trump rang Greg Norman before he worked his magic in Venezuela, then anything is possible.
There’s also just fans of Dragons in general, who probably couldn’t care less about anyone called Flanno unless they are in one of the 14 planned prequels of Game of Thrones. In that context Flanno should think himself lucky, as on the Game of Thrones TV show he would have probably been incinerated rather than fired. A severance pay and his job back on Fox League is a far better end result for him than ending up as a pile of ashes. Although, it’s not as clear cut for fans watching Foix League, more on that later.
Flanno might claim there were sections of the media that has it out for him and were always undermining, and while I admit that is the case for myself and most of the writers at this website, plus many of their family and friends, and at least half of the folk at the Big Fish Tavern in the outer northern Brisbane suburbs. Especially on a Friday afternoon. I am informed that Cabbolture and to a lesser degree Donnybrook are anti-Flanno. And rightly so.
But the motley crew of genuine Flanno haters aside, there has rarely been a coach that has received more support from the media despite being in charge of a busted-arse team with even more pitiful results that could be imagined on paper.
All his mates on Fox League have been covering his arse for years now, leading the cheer squad for him, despite results that would get the Heart Foundation’s tick of approval for leanness. Making up more excuses for him as a coach than a pot smoking Year 11 student in assignment mode.
Some of the commentary team have been so up his arse you can almost see them smiling when he yawns.
Maybe if some of the wannabe coaches should have been relentlessly white-anting him.
But instead they back his decisions which include recruiting the rugby league equivalent of Dad’s Army and paying them the LIV golf equivalent. And overlook why some of the defense is treating b y oppositions with less respect than a fare dodging jerk.
And tell us not to pick on his son, and that he’s there on merit despite being outside of the top 25 halfback in the NRL right now. Maybe he is there on merit, the merit being the whole team is shit so the halfback should be as well.
That might be harsh on the team, because they have been compeditive in a lot of the first halves, only to play like Bernie from Weekend at Bernie’s in the second half. The Dragons average 3.7 points in the second half this season, which is amazing for two reasons. One – why has Flanno lasted this long and Two – how did they win one of their seven second halves. <Checks notes> that was against the Bulldogs in Las Vegas and given their effort against a NSW Cup strength Eels on Sunday it doesn’t surprise. The Dragons second half scores reads like the old Super 66 numbers, if anyone can remember that and/or if it still exists. It was like a Temu Gold Lotto worth bugger all that preceded the actual Saturday Lotto draw. It probably wasn’t noteworthy enough for the numbers to be flashed up on the screen during Hey Hey It’s Saturday. Like Flanno’s time at the Dragons, it was underwhelming and worth next to nothing and really a waste of time.
Talking of interrupting broadcasts, no doubt Flanno will get his old job back on Fox League where his analysis will be met with levels similar to White House advisers too scared to lose their jobs. Michael Ennis may have to be muzzled if in the same booth at the same time.
Hopefully, and for the love of the rugby league gods, can we not pair Flanno and Copper Cronk at the same time. Cronk’s answer to the question that no one asks is only slightly worse than Flanno’s opinion about something that doesn’t matter. Both get in the way of Dan Ginnane calling rugby league matches, which is among the three greatest things that happens in rugby league every week. Along with Ray Stone running onto the field and TV cutaways of Craig Bellamy going nuts.
But I won’t be dancing on graves, mainly because they won’t let me out of the stable for the next week due to punishment for an incident involving a salt lick, a rake, a length of rope and three goats.
And regardless, I’m not much of a dancer. Few donkeys are. The one from Shrek is. I’m more like Eeyore, except I lay off the meds a lot more. Maybe I need more, or some.
Whatever dosage that is required in the future, the now is all about this week’s Round 8 Expert Tips.
READ MORE: NRL DONKEY’S 2026 NRL SEASON PREVIEW
READ MORE: PROPER NRL ROUND 8 TIPS
READ MORE: GURGLER’S NRL TEAM OF THE WEEK & PLAYER STATS
READ MORE: ONE MINUTE MATCH REPORTS FOR ALL ROUND 7 GAMES
The NRL Donkey’s 2026 NRL Round 8 Expert Tips & Match Analysis
GAME BY GAME
THU 7:50PM – WESTS TIGERS v CANBERRA @ Leichhardt Oval
This clash smells of Channel Nein being asleep at the wheel for this game to be on a Thursday, hard to believe that this is a Free-to-Air game. Wests Tigers have a terrible record v Canberra, but at least it’s not at Campbelltown where they have a terrible record.
Wests Tigers by 8
FRI 6PM – NORTH QUEENSLAND v CRONULLA
Now that another coach has gone and the Cowboys have started losing, you know it’s time for the “Todd Out” to start. Don’t know why he stays. The visit of Cronulla won’t help as the Cowboys have a woeful record against them.
Cronulla by 6
FRI 8PM – BRISBANE v BULLDOGS
Two performances at either end of the scale last weekend. One a team with loads of players out and managed to just get over the line, the other flogged by a team with even worse injury concerns. How on earth they beat Penrith the week before is amazing. Danger for Bulldogs this weekend is the Broncos have nearly as many players out as Parramatta had last weekend.
Broncos by 2
SAT 4PM – ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v ROOSTERS @ Allianz Stadium
Well, at least they got rid of Flanno. Maybe they will give him the reported farewell clash as they’ll probably get flogged anyway and may as well blame that on the old coach, but that’s not happening. Dragons might get some new coach bounce, although that’s debatable given reports on how little the club reportedly wanted to install Dean Young as interim.
Roosters by 40
SAT 6:05PM – WAHS v DOLPHINS @ Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Wahs are getting back to their best, the Phins played some of their best football of the season so far last weekend. This promises to be game of the round. But then it will be probably windy, pouring with rain and miserable. Conditions tailor-made for a Ray Stone tour-de-force. Except for try scoring, he’d hate it.
Wahs by 10
SAT 8:10PM – MELBOURNE v SOUTH SYDNEY
The ultimate in Stats v Form. The stat of Souths having never won in Melbourne against the form of Melbourne on the verge of a historic sixth straight loss. Reports AAMI Stadium will be reinforcing all structures during the week in case with a particular focus on the home coaching box. There are over 1,700 games of coaching between these two mastermind and almost 20 smiles across that time.
Melbourne by 6
SUN 2PM – NEWCASTLE v PENRITH
This should be a regulation flogging by the Panthers but they seem to be trying their hardest to lose the last two weeks. Or maybe The Man of Feathers has told them to lay off and make the NRL look half compeditive and interesting in 2026.
Penrith by 14
SUN 4PM – MANLY v PARRAMATTA
The most all-Sydney, Channel Nein, Rabs Special clash they could find. Maybe he could come out of retirement to call it and argue with Gus, while Andrew Johns mumbles about something or other.
Manly by 4
READ MORE: THE GURGLER’S FULL NRL 2026 GEAR
We’ve been working hard for you to bring you the 2026 NRL Season Previews from every angle and angel possible. But never Jo Angel.
NRL DONKEY’S 2026 SEASON PREVIEW
BOLD NRL 2026 SEASON PREDICTIONS
CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT’S SENSIBLE NRL 2026 SEASON PREDICTIONS
WHY YOUR TEAM CAN’T WIN THE 2026 NRL PREMIERSHIP
NRL 2026 RATINGS PREDICTIONS
2026 NRL JERSEY RATINGS WITH AI GREK NORMAN
2026 NRL DRAW ANALYSIS
2026 NRL DRAW ANALYSIS – TEAM BY TEAM
THE A TO Z OF THE 2025 NRL SEASON
