Kevin Walters has urged the Dragons players to stand up and take some “bloody ownership” after they slumped to a 0-5 record for the first time in club history after an abysmal performance on Saturday against the Cowboys.
After succumbing to a 32-0 defeat in their worst showing of the 2026 season, Walters didn’t mince his words as he questioned the side’s effort and commitment as pressure continues to heat up on head coach Shane Flanagan.
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Taking the Canterbury Bulldogs to extra time in Las Vegas, they have since failed to fire in key moments and lacked confidence on both sides of the field in attack and defence.
Stating that Flanagan should not be sacked as coach, Walters emphasised that it was time for the players to stand up and start delivering positive performances.
“There are two things that really stand out to me,” former Brisbane Broncos and current Australian Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said on Fox League.
“They’re lacking confidence. That’s not the same team that played in Vegas. It’s the same jersey, same players, but because they’ve lost three, four, five games in a row now their confidence is right down low, and confidence comes from two areas.
“One area is winning and the other area is from training well. If you train well and consistently train at high standards, it propels you to give you confidence going into the games.
“Now I’m not at trainings so I don’t know their training habits but you just see their on the slippery dip and the only way I see is not sack the coach.
“(But for the) players (to) take some ownership of your performances, take some bloody ownership and don’t throw that stupid pass.
“Get up and play the ball properly. Get on-side, kick (and) chase. All those hard things in the games, the effort areas.
“They need to pick that up as well and show your coach that you bloody care. That’s what they need to do.
“Does that sound fair? That team is much better than a 32-0 score reflects.”
This comes after veteran fullback Clint Gutherson admitted after the match against the Cowboys that the players are letting down Flanagan with their performances.
“We’re letting him down,” Gutherson told AAP.
“He does tireless work, Shane. He leaves no stone unturned. Him and Mick and Deano. We’re just not doing it.
“We had every chance to do it in the first four weeks and we didn’t.
“And then (Saturday night) we just didn’t get a chance to play the footy we wanted to and you can’t do that in the NRL.
Originally published as ‘Take bloody ownership’: Walters defends Flanagan and unloads on Dragons players
