Star-packed Dragons rebuild still has one awkward hurdle to leap
They’ve signed three high-profile stars in a matter of weeks and now the time has come for the Dragons to stop delaying the inevitable by making their stance on club legend Dean Young’s head coaching future clear, one way or another.
Since parting ways with coach Shane Flanagan in mid-April after a horror run of losses, St George Illawarra have made some huge recruitment moves.
Dean Young appears poised to take over as full-time coach. Getty
First, it was the signing of Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater, who brings to the table the one thing the Red V are clearly lacking - speed and X-factor.
Then came the addition of Luke Metcalf, who the club managed to land within days of him being granted permission to look around by the Warriors.
This week, the Dragons officially signed Roosters utility Connor Watson on a one-year contract before he joins the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
The joint venture managed to pull off all three signings without even having a coach confirmed for next season and beyond, which is pretty rare.
That obviously says a lot about chief executive Tim Watsford and recruitment manager Daniel Anderson, but they weren’t the only ones in the meetings.
Young - who is currently serving his second term as Dragons interim coach, after already holding that role once before in 2020 - revealed earlier this week that he was part of the Metcalf negotiations and spoke glowingly of fellow recruit Drinkwater.
Scott Drinkwater will join the Dragons in 2027. Getty
In an interview last month, Drinkwater also admitted that his relationship with Young from their time together in North Queensland helped get him to sign.
He also holds a relationship with Keaon Koloamatangi - who signed with the Dragons in December - from their time together with Tonga.
Watson, who is hoping to help get the Dragons back towards the finals, heaped praise on Young but conceded there was uncertainty in his dealings with the club about who would be at the helm by the time 2027 rolls around.
“That was definitely part of the conversation,” he told 9News Sydney.
“They couldn’t really give us a clear message on that. Youngy’s great, I worked with him in Origin last year and if he did get the job, that would be awesome.
“But with the young core group of guys, as well as the other guys coming in, the opportunity to help turn a great club around is exciting for me.
“That was part of the messaging, when we went in and sat with them, was that this thing [the Dragons] is a giant if we can turn it around.”
The other two names who have been thrown up as candidates are Ben Hornby and Brad Arthur - but if all of these players who have signed on the dotted line are putting their faith in Young, the man himself has reiterated his desire to get the full-time job and is already part of the recruitment process for some top-line talent, surely the time has come to rip the band-aid off?
“I think they should make it official,” league great Mark Geyer told 2GB’s Sports Today earlier this week.
“I think it adds stability when you know that your coach is gonna be there for the long haul and you wanna go through it with him.
“Another coach is gonna come in if they don’t go with Dean Young and start all over again. Here’s a guy who has been right up to his armpits in the club, he’s Dragons through and through.
“I was a little bit sceptical when he was first appointed, because I thought he was too close to the red and white, but he’s shown that the players like him.
“If the players respect you, you’re onto something. I think these young Dragons forwards in particular and the players who are signing for next year, they must know who is gonna be the coach and I think it’s gonna be Dean Young.
“They have got something special brewing for next year, so much so that I said they’ll make the top-eight next year for sure, maybe even top-four.”
Geyer isn’t the only high-profile pundit backing Young to stick around.
Andrew Johns has been vocal in his support of the 42-year-old and doubled down on his plea to St George Illawarra bosses to get behind the club great.
“Dean Young’s gotta get it, they’ve gotta give him an opportunity,” the rugby league Immortal said on Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth.
“He’s attracted these players, so give him a start. He deserves his opportunity.”
The longer the uncertainty drags on, the louder calls will get from the outside to appoint Young or move in a new direction.
Young bleeds red and white, having played over 200 games for the club and featuring in their last premiership win in 2010.
He’s done a lengthy apprenticeship at both NRL and representative level, working under a litany of different coaches to gain experience for this type of challenge.
Dean Young with his father Craig after the 2010 grand final. Getty
While he might not have been the first choice for Dragons fans to become the long-term coach right off the bat, all signs clearly point towards that happening.
If that’s the way the club are already leaning, it makes little sense to delay it.
If the Dragons have someone else in their sights and don’t want to extend Young on a permanent deal, don’t kick that can down the road either.
