The Dragons’ Struggles and the Pressure on Interim Coach Dean Young
The St. George Illawarra Dragons are currently facing a challenging period in their NRL season, with interim coach Dean Young having to make tough decisions regarding several players in his struggling side. Among them is young star Kade Reed, who has been brought into the first team since the departure of former head coach Shane Flanagan. Flanagan had previously resisted calls to promote Reed to the first grade side, but after a defeat to the Rabbitohs, he eventually left the club.
Young’s decision to include Reed has not yet yielded the desired results. Despite showing promise in his first two games, Reed struggled in the recent match against the Roosters, where the Dragons conceded 62 points. The following week, they lost 44-0 to the Knights, further highlighting the team’s difficulties.
Kalyn Ponga was a standout performer for the Roosters in the match against the Dragons, exploiting weaknesses in the home side’s defense. Unfortunately, Reed did not manage to make a significant impact, as the Dragons continued to face challenges in their performance.
NRL commentator Andrew Voss believes that it might have been too soon for Young to bring Reed into the first team. Voss acknowledged Reed’s potential, noting that he was the main kicker for the Dragons in the game and contributed 70 run metres and 18 tackles. However, he also emphasized that Reed and other halfbacks like Lyhkan King-Togia are not yet ready for first-grade rugby league.
Speaking on SEN Radio, Voss suggested that another change in the halves might be necessary if the Dragons are to secure their first win of the season. “Kade Reed and Lyhkan King-Togia, the potential is there but they are not first graders at this point,” Voss said. “Two weeks in and I can see why Kade Reed was not used by the previous regime.”
Questions Around Clint Gutherson and Team Performance
Voss also raised concerns about other players in the Dragons’ squad. He pointed out that Clint Gutherson does not seem to be performing well as a right centre, a role he is not suited for. “I knew that after 10 minutes on Saturday and Bradman Best for Newcastle was licking his chops,” Voss added.
In addition, Voss criticized the team’s overall performance, stating that their efforts were insufficient. “They copped a belting from the Knights. It was all over by halftime,” he said. During a press conference, Young claimed to have seen improvement, but Voss felt this response was inadequate. “If I’m a Dragons fan, I want to hear a little more than that. I’m not here to kick them while they’re down but that answer (was bad). I need to hear more than training has improved.”
The Dragons are currently ranked last in the competition, with a 1-7 record. Voss highlighted areas such as effort and performance that need to improve if the team is to turn things around.
Challenges Ahead for the Dragons
The Dragons’ next challenge comes this weekend as they face the Panthers in the Magic Round. This match could be crucial for the team as they look to regain some momentum. Nathan Cleary and his teammates will likely be under pressure to perform well ahead of the State of Origin team announcements on Monday.
With the pressure mounting on interim coach Dean Young, the Dragons must find a way to improve quickly. The team needs to address issues in key positions and show more consistency on the field. Only then can they hope to avoid further setbacks and start climbing up the ladder in the NRL.
