EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould's pointed message to Dragons players ahead of rookie Kade Reed's debut

Phil Gould has put Kade Reed's teammates on notice as the Dragons rookie readies himself for a cut-throat introduction to the NRL on Anzac Day, declaring they hold "great protective responsibility".

The rugby league icon also said it was Dean Young's task to "resurrect" the confidence and careers of Dragons players in the face of "absolutely toxic" social media trolling.

Reed, 20, will on Saturday run out in front of 40,000 people at Allianz Stadium to face the Roosters on his NRL debut, having been handed the keys to the team at the expense of Kyle Flanagan.

READ MORE: Gutho's assurance for axed Kyle Flanagan after 'wild' 48 hours

READ MORE: Premiership teammate backs Young's ruthless Ennis sacking

READ MORE: 'There were a few': Turbo's raw admission after latest injury blow

Young, a hero of the Dragons' 2010 premiership team and the club's newly appointed interim head coach, made the call to axe Flanagan and blood Reed as soon as he was given the job about 5.30pm on Monday.

"It's a big call, it's a big call," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus.

"I've seen plenty of Kade playing in the lower grades, and he's a player of obvious talent.

"Just when is the right time to blood these young fellows and put them in the top grade?

"I think the coach is looking for a change, just something, and Kade can provide that, provided he's supported by the rest of the team.

Watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.

"See, sometimes it's not just the promotion of the kid for the kid to do the job; it's the promotion of the kid for those around him to feel more responsible for what happens.

"I've had the great pleasure of debuting young kids or picking young kids to play in the team, but my first word is to the rest of the team: he's not here to save us, and if anything happens to him, I'm gonna be coming for you.

"And I think there'll be a great protective responsibility with the rest of the players in that team to make sure that Kade's introduction to the top grade is as smooth as possible."

Gould said there was "no doubt" Reed would be targeted by opposition teams, beginning on Saturday.

Gun Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton is sure to be running at the young halfback all day – not that Reed, at least on the surface, is fazed.

"And that can bring a togetherness with the Dragons on how they protect that and how they deal with that," Gould added.

Canterbury's general manager of football backed Reed to "spark" the bottom-placed Dragons and give them "something they haven't had for some time".

He is not anticipating St George Illawarra to have a "miracle turnaround" under Young – the kind of stunning resurgence enjoyed by Manly under interim head coach Kieran Foran – but he said the caretaker coach must get the players believing in their potential again.

"He would probably feel the stress that the players are under, the uncertainty that they would be living with, the criticism," Gould said.

"This is another subject for another day, but the toxic nature of our social media and these people who purport themselves to be fans and what they're doing doesn't go unnoticed by players and clubs and staff and all of that, and it's absolutely toxic and it's terrible, and our game needs to make a stand on that.

"But Dean Young would understand, being a footballer and being involved with that club, just what sort of pressure some of these young players would be under, and even his senior players.

"... There will be a lot of players in that club that he will feel very responsible to, to try and help them resurrect their careers, or help them resurrect their confidence in what they're doing, and build a mentality with that team that they're all in it together and they'll fight through this and come out the other side."

Gould said that although the Dragons may have the capability to string together some wins, they are in a "far more fragile state" than the Sea Eagles were prior to the sacking of Anthony Seibold.

"He's got a big job, Dean Young," Gould added.

"But he's passionate about it, he has a very great belief in the juniors and the local products that they've got there.

"... He needs to resurrect the confidence and the connectivity of this group at the top and get them playing to the best of their ability, and that'll be a good start."