Dean Young, the interim coach of the St. George Illawarra Dragons, has made it clear that he wants to take on the role permanently. However, he has admitted there have been no formal discussions with the club regarding a long-term contract.
Young took charge of the Red V in April after a poor run of form and led them to their first win of the season in a surprising 30-26 victory over the Broncos. The 2010 premiership winner has been praised for bringing some much-needed positivity to the team.
During an appearance on Nine’s 100% Footy, Young confirmed his desire to stay on as head coach when asked by Paul Gallen. “I want the job,” he said definitively.
The Dragons are set for a significant overhaul next season, with several new recruits expected to join the squad. Players such as Scott Drinkwater, Phillip Sami, Keaon Koloamatangi, and Luke Metcalf will be added to the roster. Connor Watson will also spend a year with the Dragons before moving to Papua New Guinea.
Phil Gould, a member of the show’s panel, questioned whether there had been any discussions about Young taking the role full-time. Young confirmed that no official talks had taken place. He also noted that players have raised concerns about needing clarity on the coaching situation during negotiations.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of meetings with players,” Young said. “They do ask questions, and I’ve 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.”
In addition to the new signings, Young has a group of young talents to work with if he is appointed as the permanent coach. One of his first decisions was to give a chance to young player Kade Reed, although this opportunity was short-lived due to an injury. Lyhkan King-Togia was also given a chance but did not capitalize on it.
Young explained his reasoning for these choices. “When I first took over, I wasn’t happy with the way things were going and thought we needed to make some changes,” he said. “I gave Kade an opportunity, but he hurt his finger, and Lykian got a chance against Newcastle but didn’t take it.”
He then returned to Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson, stating that they performed well against Penrith. “We played straight and stuck to the game plan,” he said. “The next week against the Warriors, we fought hard but weren’t satisfied with our performance. We spoke about it and had a plan for the Broncos, which we stuck to.”
One of Young’s first actions as interim coach was to change the training approach. He emphasized the importance of fundamentals. “When I first took over, we stripped everything back and got back to the basics,” he said. “I can’t thank the players enough because we’re in a tough spot. To lose as many games as we have and still turn up to training with a good attitude, keep fighting in games, and believe in what I’m telling them is really pleasing.”
The Dragons will face the Sharks on Sunday, with Young hoping to build on the momentum from their recent win. If he is given the chance to continue as head coach, he will have a strong foundation to work with, both in terms of new talent and the existing squad.
