KEIGHLEY COUGARS interim coach Danny Burton praised milestone man George Flanagan after the 39-year-old hooker helped his side banish worries about the potential effects of pre-season disruption with an opening-round win over Goole.
His 32nd Keighley appearance, which included a try in the 32-18 home victory, was the 300th of a professional career that began at Batley in 2009 after he had been in the Bradford Academy.
Flanagan eventually returned to the Bulls to play 107 times for them, after 53 games for Batley, 16 for Dewsbury, 19 for Featherstone, 69 for Hunslet and two for Hemel Stags (both on dual registration).
While at Bradford he made two appearances on loan for Rochdale in 2024 before heading to Keighley, initially on loan before the move was made permanent in June of that year.
Flanagan’s 300th match came the day before his 21-year-old son, also George but a fullback, agreed a new Huddersfield contract to the end of 2029.
The pair three times played alongside each other for Bradford. Then in 2024 they, twice faced each other when Keighley met Hunslet, where George Jnr was on loan from the Giants.
Burton stepped up from assistant to take the reins when Alan Kilshaw left less than a fortnight before the Goole game to take a coaching role at Oldham, and said of Flanagan: “He’s not just a very good and experienced player, but a great guy.
“George has this sort of pantomime villain persona, but everyone who knows him loves him because he has such an infectious personality.
“He’s a very good professional – you don’t play 300 games without being that way – and he looks after himself and still works at his craft.
“He’ll be one of the first in the gym – and he doesn’t mess around when he’s there – and he always takes a lead in training, urging everyone on. He’s a pleasure to coach.”