Why Young could be doomed to fail as ‘tough assignment’ could create awkward Dragons scenario

The winless Dragons have a “horror” run of games upcoming in what will be a baptism of fire for interim coach Dean Young. Could it “hinder” his chances of keeping the gig beyond this season?

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That’s the concern for NRL360 host Braith Anasta, who believes that due to the immense pressure the Dragons’ board is under, Young could perhaps be unfairly judged over the next few weeks when the Red V take on the Knights (10th), Panthers (1st), Warriors (2nd), Broncos (9th) and Sharks (8th).

It’s already off to a rocky start for Young. In his first game after taking over from the dismissed Shane Flanagan, the Dragons were thrashed by 46 on ANZAC Day against the Roosters.

“They’ve got a tough next five games. Will this hinder Dean Young’s chance of solidifying that permanent head coaching role there?” Anasta put to the NRL360 panel.

Foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley believes Young is on a hiding to nothing due to the “limited” roster he’s dealing with.

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“You can’t pull your socks up if you’re not wearing any. They are such a limited squad and Dean Young didn’t assemble it, Shane Flanagan did,” Crawley said.

“We’ve seen enough of the Dragons this year to know there’s not going to be a team they won’t struggle against.

“I expect it to happen (lose the next five). I think it’s going to be hard for them to win a game … It shouldn’t be on wins and losses.”

Anasta agreed but says that the reality of the situation at the struggling joint venture club means that Young may be judged on wins and losses despite the state of the roster.

”The point I’m making is that you have a club board now under extreme pressure after the Flanagan situation, so how are they gonna justify to their fans watching if Dean Young goes out there loses the next five or six in a row since he’s been in charge,” he said.

“How are they gonna justify signing him. It’s going to make it hard.”

It wasn’t only Flanagan who lost his job. General manager of football Ben Haran handed in his resignation two days before Flanagan’s departure last month.

Haran was replaced by Ben Creagh, a club great who is good mates with Young with the pair winning a premiership together.

“I hope there’s someone smart enough in the room to see what we’re suggesting here that it may not be about results and I’m pointing to Ben Creagh,” The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio said.

“Ben knows what success and defeat looks like and what winning dressing rooms look like so I hope Ben is a really critical role here in whether Dean actually gets this job or not … It’ll be hard but it’s not about being a mate.”

“They’re good mates … That’s a tough first assignment (for Creagh) to have,” Anasta added.

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