THE utility value of Mark Flanagan has been well recognised in his four years since signing from Wests Tigers – and was again called upon once again last weekend.

Flanagan, who operated between the halves and loose forward in last October’s against the odds Grand Final triumph against Wigan, filled in competently at hooker against Salford following James Roby’s early departure with a hand injury.

Although some versatile players can often suffer from that tag when teams are at full strength, at the moment it is serving Flanagan well.

Flanagan said: “It was a blow losing Robes for such a large part of the game, but I have been a utility player and played a number of positions for a large part of my career and happy to do what is best for the team.

“Being versatile can be good or bad, sometimes it can be hard to cement a place down because you are always doing what is best for the team – and Jon Wilkin can agree with me there because he has done a bit of everything.

“It is a team game and it’s not about me it about what is best and if I can do that.”

For someone like Flanagan, who was thrust into a key role for what was a patched up Saints team in the Grand Final, it has been about backing up this year with more quality performances.

But years like 2014 do not come around very often.

“Last year was just a rollercoaster year and to cap it off the way we did after having so many people write us off and so to win it like that was something special.

“This year it is just about keeping your standards high it is easy to have a good season and then rest on your laurels.

“We have got a lot of competition for places and if someone is breathing down your neck you have to play well to keep your spot,” he said.

Currently in second spot despite losing key men like Luke Walsh, Jonny Lomax, Atelea Vea, Joe Greenwood, Lance Hohaia and Paul Wellens, Saints are once again doing it tough and showing good spirit.

He has had his own share of the injury bug this year when he suffered a split tear duct in the game at Wakefield which needed some intricate surgery to repair.

“I caught the ball and Ali Lauitiiti knocked me into the middle of next week. It split my tear duct – I have had a plastic tube put in my eye and a few stitches. I get that taken out in a few months.

“It split so I needed something to catch all the fluid or else it would look like I am crying all the time which isn’t a great look in rugby,” he said.

The team’s spirit in coping with injury is something Flanagan believes augurs well for the business end of the campaign.

He said: “We have been a little bit up and down this season but we are a point off Leeds, and with the amount of players we have had out that is a pretty good season so far. Obviously the business end is coming up, the Challenge Cup and then into the Super 8s.

“The Hull and Warrington games were really satisfying because we defended really well and that is important. We weren’t as good against Salford but we got the job done.

“It is always a big one against Wigan, a passionate clash and the fans love it and it always a great occasion and I am sure this week will be no different. I can’t wait it’s the type of game you want to play rugby for.

“They are coming into it off the back of a good win against Huddersfield and are a point behind us, so there is everything to play for.

“All teams have ups and downs and ride it out when they are struggling and that is what Wigan have done.

“They have had a few players come back Lockers has been back the past few weeks and Josh Charnley and Liam Farrell are back. They have a fine squad, so it should be a good game.”

Rugby is not the only string to Flanagan’s bow, and he and skipper Jon Wilkin have got a coffee shop – Pot Kettle Black - off the ground in Manchester’s Barton Arcade off Deansgate.

It is proving to be an enjoyable sideline for the 27-year-old.

He explained: “I was in Oz for two years and really got into my coffee and came back and realised that there were a million chains and not many independents doing a good product.

“Me and Jon put our brains together, we are doing all right and got an award a few months ago and steadily getting busier and busier.

“It’s good – you can’t play rugby forever, we get a lot of free time, so it is nice to fill our time with something else more productive. It makes you more rounded to have something else in your life.”