Kyle Flanagan cleared of serious injury after brutal knockout

St George Illawarra's slow start to the 2026 season took a frightening turn on Sunday when halfback Kyle Flanagan was stretchered from the field and taken to hospital after a sickening head clash with teammate Hayden Buchanan in the 61st minute.

Kyle was unconscious for several minutes after the collision and was taken from the ground in a neck brace, loaded into an ambulance with father and coach Shane Flanagan watching on.

Shane was direct about his son's condition post-match. "He's not okay - he's been taken to hospital," he said.

"He was unconscious for someone said five minutes. That's a big concern. He's got feeling in his legs and movement. Let's hope he's okay, but being unconscious for that long is a concern."

Shane said Kyle had been in contact with family but remained agitated: "He rang his mum and wife."

They've taken him for precautionary x-rays. He's talking, he's a bit agitated. He's one of the toughest kids you'll ever see. He didn't want to go in the ambulance. It wasn't nice to see."

The Dragons released a statement on Monday morning clearing Kyle of any major injury.

Flanagan was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital as a precaution after sustaining a heavy concussion and potential neck injury," it read.

"Thankfully, imaging has confirmed no structural damage. He will continue to be monitored by club medical staff under NRL concussion protocols regarding the return-to-play timeline and is travelling home with the team today."

The incident cast a shadow over what was already a grim evening for the Dragons, who slumped to an 0-4 start to the season with the loss handing the Gold Coast Titans their first win under new coach Josh Hannay.

After a promising showing in Las Vegas where they went down by a single point to Canterbury in controversial circumstances, the wheels have fallen off for St George Illawarra.

Shane Flanagan was at a loss to explain the slide: "It's really frustrating," he said.

"I know I've got a group of players that can get it done but we're not. We had a really good off-season. They're fit and strong enough. We're just not getting it done. I'll have to look long and hard and deep."

While some were calling the match an early look at the 2026 'spoon bowl', Titans coach Josh Hannay said he was happy to come away with the two points.

“It’s good to get that monkey off the back,” Hannay said.

“The players have been working really hard. We’ve got to improve in a lot of areas because we’re making it hard for ourselves but I’m proud of how connected and gritty they are.

“Hard work, effort and grit doesn’t always get rewards. It felt like we were banging our head against a brick wall. I want to celebrate the grittiness of this group.”