Shane Flanagan is confident a return to an NRL head coaching position is just around the corner despite just beginning his tenure as an assistant under Anthony Seibold at Manly-Warringah.

Flanagan won a premiership with Cronulla in 2016 but would later be de-registered after he was caught communicating with Sharks playing while suspended from his duties.

He has since spent time as an assistant at the Dragons and now Manly.

“…I’d like to think I’d get a job here in the NRL first before even looking abroad,” Flanagan told English publication League Express.

“I’m an assistant coach at Manly and I’m enjoying it but I think I will get an NRL job here sooner rather than later.”

Flanagan has been linked to the heading coaching position at St George Illawarra but that is dependent on the performance of Anthony Griffin’s men in the opening rounds of the 2023 season.