Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan has been cleared of facial fractures and discharged from hospital after a heavy head clash in St George Illawarraโs loss to the Gold Coast.
Flanagan was unconscious for up to five minutes, according to his coach and father Shane, when he collided with teammate Hayden Buchanan attempting to make a tackle.
He was taken to hospital in an ambulance where scans cleared him of a significant facial injuries. Flanagan faces an extended layoff, though, given the severity of his concussion.
The Dragons sit bottom of the ladder after a winless first month of 2026 and next host the Cowboys on Saturday at Jubilee Stadium.
Twenty-year-old playmaker Lyhkan King-Togia replaced Flanagan late in the 22-14 loss to the Titans and shapes as his most likely replacement in the halves.
Shane Flanagan said post-match that his son had shown improvement shortly after being taken from the field on a medicab.
โHe rang his mum and rang his wife, and they are taking precautionary X-rays,โ Flanagan said immediately following the match.
โHe has got feeling in his legs and movement, so letโs hope he is OK.
โIt was definitely a challenge. I had to get myself together and regroup, and know we have got good medical staff, and heโd be OK.
โHe is talking. He was a bit agitated. He is one of the toughest kids you are ever going to see, so he didnโt want to go in the ambulance. Heโd prefer to sit in the car, but that is just the way he is. It wasnโt nice to see.โ
Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
