Kade Reed’s NRL Debut and the Path Forward for St George Illawarra
Dean Young, the new interim coach of St George Illawarra, has expressed confidence in Kade Reed as the team’s halfback despite a challenging start to the season. The Dragons faced a heavy defeat in Reed’s highly anticipated NRL debut, losing 62-16 to the Sydney Roosters in the traditional Anzac Day clash. This loss extended the Dragons’ losing streak to 12 games, with eight of those coming at the start of the current season.
Young made his first decision as interim coach by giving Reed his debut in the high-stakes match, just days after the club parted ways with previous coach Shane Flanagan. The Roosters dominated the game, showcasing their superior performance and leaving the Dragons struggling to find their footing.
Despite the overwhelming defeat, Reed showed moments of promise during his debut. He set up what could have been the first try of the game with a well-timed cut-out ball for Mat Feagai. However, an earlier knock-on negated the play, highlighting the challenges of performing under pressure.
In the first half, Reed managed to create some attacking pressure by chipping the ball over the line, forcing a goal-line dropout. Later, he delivered a daring cross-field kick that allowed Val Holmes to field the ball on the second tackle. On the next play, Reed moved right, and Setu Tu scored the Dragons’ first try of the match.
Young praised Reed for his efforts, acknowledging the difficulty of stepping into such a high-pressure situation. “I was proud of him,” Young said. “It’s a tough ask going into Anzac Day when you’re zero and seven, and I thought he did his best. He’s got a lot to work on, but I thought there were some good signs there.”
Looking ahead, Young is unsure whether he will make significant changes to the team as the Dragons prepare to face Newcastle following their round-nine bye. Players like Feagai had a difficult afternoon, with two missed opportunities to wrap up kicks that led to Roosters tries. Dan Atkinson also struggled to provide much attacking threat at five-eighth.
“We just had 62 points put on us, so I’m not even thinking about what team selections are,” Young said. “I need to look at the video and go from there.”
However, one thing is clear: Young is certain about Reed’s role in the upcoming match against the Newcastle Knights. “Kade will be our halfback against the Newcastle Knights,” he confirmed.
As Young works to turn the Dragons’ fortunes around, he draws on his experience as an assistant coach with the North Queensland Cowboys. In 2021, the Cowboys endured a ten-game losing streak before making a strong comeback the following season. They reached the top four and came within a converted try of a grand final berth.
“I’ve been here before, but there’s a lot of hard work before you get to that,” Young said. “We had a plan and we stuck to it as a coaching group.”
With a clear vision and determination, Young aims to guide the Dragons back to form and restore their competitive edge in the league.
