Moses Suli didn't think Shane Flanagan had it in him to deliver the kind of spray that's keeping the St George Illawarra centre out of KFC and primed for a big year.
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Flanagan arrived at the Dragons tasked with ending a five-year finals drought and leading the recovery from a season of turmoil on and off the field.
In the space of 12 months, the Dragons have sacked Anthony Griffin as coach, faced a battle to keep disgruntled skipper Ben Hunt at the club, and shredded the contract of Junior Amone following his criminal conviction.
Looking to steady the ship, Flanagan has refreshed training, added new voices to his coaching and high-performance staff, and sparked hopes of progress up the ladder.
"He's got high standards and he demands high standards," prop Blake Lawrie told AAP.
Suli admitted he was slow to recognise his new coach's tough side - to his own detriment.
"He's really confronting, he doesn't care - he'll tell you the truth straight up," Suli told AAP.
"I've copped plenty of sprays in my career so I'm kind of used to it, but it caught me by surprise. I didn't think he was like that."
The Tonga international, known for his explosive ball-running, is the first to admit limbering up in the pre-season is not one of his strengths
But with Zac Lomax and Jack Bird also keen on a starting spot in the centres, Suli has had to click into gear for the sake of his career.
That's where Flanagan has come in.
"I just wasn't training well, I wasn't moving fast," Suli said.
"He just gave me that extra kick up the arse just to let me know that I've got a heap of things I've got to work on.
"I really love that. When he gives you that spray, you know what you've got to fix straight away.
"He really backs us as players, reckons we've got something growing here."
His dedication to Flanagan's vision has left Suli determined to keep his weight down - something he has struggled to do in previous seasons.
"I've got to make some sacrifices," he said.
"I'm not really a snack guy, I'm not a big fan of lollies and that, but when it comes to fatty food, KFC is a big one for me. I love my wicked wings.
"But it's been a while since I've had something like that. Hopefully it helps me in the end."
That commitment seems at odds with the man who admitted last March he had been hesitant to leave Manly and join the struggling Dragons in 2022.
But fresh from signing a three-year contract extension in December, Suli is convinced Wollongong is his long-term home.
"Ever since I've been here, I've loved every second," he said.
"This is where I belong. I want to play footy here for as long as I can. Hopefully that's for the rest of my career."
Australian Associated Press
