Dean Young has beaten his former teammate Ben Hornby to become the permanent head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons on a two-year deal until the end of 2028.
Young took over as interim coach in April after Shane Flanagan was sacked following a winless start to the season. Even though the Dragons only won two games under his watch, the team showed clear improvement, earning Young the job over Hornby.
“Leading this great club is a privilege, but I understand that it also comes with responsibility and pressure,” Young said in a statement.
“I have experienced success and failure in this game, as both a player and a coach.
“Those experiences have given me the confidence to lead this club back to where it belongs.
“I want our fans to be proud of our football team. Proud of how hard we compete and how consistent we are. It’s my job to create an environment that delivers these values.
“We have only just started to see the potential of this team. There’s a lot more work to be done.”
Young has strong ties to the club, having played over 200 games and won the 2010 premiership for the Dragons. His father, Craig, also played for and coached St George before the Illawarra merger.
Heading into 2027, Young will work with a promising forward pack that includes Hamish Stewart, the Couchman twins, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, and incoming South Sydney prop Keaon Koloamatangi.
The Dragons have also signed Scott Drinkwater, Luke Metcalf, Phillip Sami, and Connor Watson for next year. Young’s connections from North Queensland, Tonga, and the NSW State of Origin team could help attract more talent to the club.
Dragons chief executive Tim Watsford stated that the decision came down to Young’s abilities rather than just his history with the club.
“Dean’s history with the Dragons is well known and respected, but that is not why he has been appointed,” Watsford said.
“This decision is based on the strength of his football plan, his connection with players, his leadership of staff, his alignment with our pathways and recruitment strategy, and his understanding of what this club needs to become.”
