On the day Shane Flanagan hoped he would return to work, the NRL has announced the suspended Sharks coach has not done enough to earn an early reprieve for his ban over the supplement scandal.
NRL CEO Dave Smith said Flanagan had made “significant progress” since the suspension was imposed on December 17 but would be required to undertake further work to return early from the 12-month ban.
The 48-year-old Flanagan was sanctioned after the NRL deemed he and former Sharks strength and conditioning coach Trent Elkin failed in their duty of care to players during the 2011 season – specifically in relation to their supplements program.
Flanagan was given the chance to have the penalty cut by three months if he met a series of conditions – which included completing an intensive education and training course that focused on his responsibilities as a coach.
That meant Flanagan could return to work on Wednesday if given the green light.
And momentum built for Flanagan’s early release after he fronted a panel this week that included Smith, the NRL’s head of football Todd Greenberg and integrity unit lawyer Nick Weeks to argue his case for reinstatement.
However, Smith said Flanagan still had some work to do.
“Coach Shane Flanagan will not be having his suspension lifted,” Smith said at a press conference in Rockhampton on Wednesday.
“While coach Flanagan has made significant progress and we commend him for his attitude, hard work and commitment we don’t feel he has yet met the conditions that are required.
“It is about due process. We always said we would not reinstate until the conditions were satisfied.”
Smith confirmed the earliest Flanagan could have returned to work was on Wednesday.
But he gave no deadline on when Flanagan’s case would next be reviewed.
Smith only said the panel would reconvene once Flanagan had completed the additional work identified during this week’s review.
“We have given coach Flanagan really clear guidance as to what our expectations are,” Smith said.
“He will go away and think about that and we will give him as much support as we need to give him and the panel will meet in due course to consider if those conditions have been met.”
CONDITIONS SHANE FLANAGAN MUST MEET IF HIS BAN IS TO BE LIFTED:
– Complete intensive education and training courses on workplace health and safety, the NRL rules and other integrity and ethical training
– Demonstrate that he understands the duties of obligations of an NRL head coach
– Refrain from dealing directly or indirectly with the Sharks club, team and players
