Serious conversations are being held behind closed doors at the St George Illawarra Dragons as they suffer through the worst losing streak in club history.

Saturday’s 32-0 defeat to the Cowboys left the Dragons with their worst-ever start to a season following a winless opening five rounds, while their nine straight losses is also a club record low.

The spotlight is firmly on coach Shane Flanagan and even he knows he will need to start winning to keep his job, despite believing club bosses had been “rock solid” in their support of him.

The coach then cut a dejected figure in the post-match press conference, vowing not to give up as he admitted the performance was “not acceptable”.

Channel Seven’s The Agenda Setters: Rugby League panellist David Riccio shed more light on the dire situation at the club.

“They are a club in crisis,” Riccio said.

“This is not the way St George Illawarra wanted to start their season at all.

“It was pitiful, the way they displayed themselves against the Cowboys.

“It’s all eyes on how they perform against the Manly Sea Eagles, as pressure mounts on head coach Shane Flanagan.

“Internally there are serious questions being asked.”

Riccio said Flanagan’s job is safe for now, but he desperately needs a win against the Sea Eagles this week.

He also said contract negotiations with all off-contract players have been put on hold.

“At this point in time, there isn’t an appetite to sack Shane Flanagan,” Riccio said.

“He needs a win against the Sea Eagles to keep the wolves at bay, but internally there are questions being asked about ‘how did we get here?’.

“A recruitment committee formed and led by CEO Tim Watsford which lead to yesterday’s breaking story (about Damien Cook).

“This committee are in the room and made the decision to freeze all negotiations with off contract players – including pulling an extension for Damien Cook.”

Fellow panelist Luke Keary added: “It’s a club in turmoil; there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes.”

The Dragons are reportedly chasing Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller in an emergency mid-season signing.

After calls of a lack of X-factor in their backline, a clause in Fuller’s contract allows him to exit the Dolphins if a certain salary threshold is met.

The 28-year-old has impressed whenever given a chance at fullback, but has played just nine minutes for the Dolphins this year while stuck behind Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

“The club can obviously do what they like. I have said openly for 15 years I’ve been playing that I will play anywhere,” Clint Gutherson said.

“I know what I can do to help a team and I am happy to play anywhere. If they see me playing somewhere else that’s the way it is.

“It’s nothing against me, I want to win as much as anyone else. If we can make our team better and there is a player out there, I am all for it.”

The Dragons will take on the Manly Sea Eagles on Wollongong on Friday night.