Dragons Interim Coach Throws Hat in the Ring for Full-Time Role
St George Illawarra Dragons interim coach Dean Young has made his intentions clear: he wants the top job on a permanent basis. However, despite leading the Red V to their first victory of the season – a stunning 30-26 upset against the Brisbane Broncos – Young has confirmed that no formal contract discussions have taken place with the club.
Young, a celebrated premiership winner with the Dragons in 2010, stepped into the coaching hot seat in April, taking over from Shane Flanagan amidst a challenging period for the club. His recent success has undoubtedly injected a much-needed dose of optimism into the Dragons’ fanbase.
When directly asked by Paul Gallen on Nine’s 100% Footy if he desired the full-time coaching position, Young responded with a definitive “I want the job.”
The upcoming season promises significant changes for the Dragons, with a raft of new recruits set to join the squad. Among the notable arrivals are Scott Drinkwater, Phillip Sami, Keaon Koloamatangi, and Luke Metcalf. Connor Watson is also slated to spend a year with the club before heading to PNG.
Recruits Eager for Coaching Clarity
During the panel discussion, Phil Gould raised a pertinent point, inquiring whether any conversations had occurred regarding Young’s long-term coaching future. Young confirmed that no such discussions had transpired. Gould further probed about the impact this uncertainty might have on player recruitment, highlighting the importance for new signings to know who will be steering the ship next season.
Young acknowledged that this very concern had been voiced by players themselves.
“Yeah, they do, and I’ve been involved in a lot of the meetings with players,” Young stated. “I’ve obviously got a great relationship with Scott Drinkwater from my time at the Cowboys. I’ve worked with Keaon with Tonga since 2019. I met Luke Metcalf for two hours and explained the style of play I think will work in today’s game and the spine the Dragons will have next year. I hope I get a pre-season with them, Gus.”
Nurturing Young Talent and Rebuilding Foundations
Beyond the incoming talent, Young has an exciting crop of emerging players at his disposal should he be appointed the permanent coach. His initial tenure saw him give opportunities to youngsters like Kade Reed and Lyhkan King-Togia.
Young elaborated on the rationale behind these decisions:
“When I first took over, I wasn’t really happy with the way things were going. I thought we needed to make some change, so I gave an opportunity to young Kade Reed, and unfortunately, he hurt his finger. And Lykian got an opportunity against Newcastle but didn’t take that opportunity. So I went back to Kyle (Flanagan) and Atko (Daniel Atkinson), and I thought we did a good job against Penrith; we played straight and stuck to the game plan. The next week against the Warriors, although we fought hard, I was really disappointed with the way we performed, and we didn’t stick to the way we wanted to play. We spoke about that and had a plan for the Broncos and stuck to it.”
A Return to Basics for Improved Performance
The 42-year-old also shed light on one of his early strategic moves: a fundamental shift in training methodologies, which he believes has contributed to the improved performances of senior players.
“When I first took over, we stripped everything back and got back to the basics and tried to nail the fundamentals,” Young explained. “I can’t thank the players enough because we’re in a real tough spot. To lose as many games as we have on the trot and keep turning up to training with a good attitude, keep fighting in games, and keep believing in the messages that I’m giving them is really pleasing.”
The Dragons’ next challenge sees them taking on the Cronulla Sharks this Sunday.
