Interim Coach for 2026 - Dean Young

[RedVHeartbeat]

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Setu Tu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kade Reed 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Ryan Couchman 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Josh Kerr 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Jacob Halangahu

Good on you Deano for picking those guys in bold, Loko, specially will now feel wanted, also for having the guts to dump Kyle something your predecessor refused to do and that cost him his job. Pleased to see our new coach also wants Ryan on the edge. I reckon Val has had a wake up call after all the flack and will be firing on all cylinders on Sat. Other than Feagai and Gurer, this is a competitive side and will give those Chooks a run for their money.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

The head coach and GM of football were removed. How far did you expect it to go?

As far as is needed to eradicate division between the two parties. There is talk from the media that more heads are to roll. Hope it is one the troublemaker directors. Do you guys know who our directors are. I know some from the Saints side, Craig Young, Brian Johnston, Mark Coyne and your friend and mine, Peter Doust. No idea those from the Gong side other than the chairman Lancaster.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Willie Talau likely to take Ennis' spot as AC, but who will we bring here or look internally for our DC. Jeez I wonder what relationship Young has with Jack. He'd be perfect for the job.

 

[RufusRex]

As far as is needed to eradicate division between the two parties. There is talk from the media that more heads are to roll. Hope one is Doust.

You are asking the board to jump off the gravy train … they are the people who can make the changes you are talking about

Doust cannot be simply removed with the snap of someone’s fingers

 

[Dragons Chris]

As far as is needed to eradicate division between the two parties. There is talk from the media that more heads are to roll. Hope one is Doust.

Head coach, one assistant, GM of football all removed. Unless it's Daniel Anderson, and I can't image that would be the case after he's only 7 rounds into the long-term project he was hired for, who else?

I believe Doust has a say in the hiring of a GM and head coach but has nothing to do with the team after that.

News at the time which Doust said isn't true is that he was against signing Flanno.

 

[Frank Facer]

I was just thinking, Flanno not picking Reed or Pasifiki Tonga really gave Dean Young an opening and opportunity to look good. If we do turn the corner, due to Reed's inclusion, Young will be getting all the accolades. I know Flanno stuck with Kyle and since the Charity Shield, myself and many others have been calling Reed to be picked at halfback with Acko 5/8, but many on this forum were of the opinion that Reed wasn't ready for first grade this year and should spend the year in NSW Cup. All those who were of that opinion, have now gone silent. I also said Pasifiki Tonga should have been there instead of Lawrie all season. I could hardly believe Flanno kept picking Lawrie and kept leaving Loko out.

As you all know, I have been calling for Leilua to be moved to prop and for Halangahu to be in the first grade squad. Young still hasn't moved Leilua to the prop rotation, but he has done all of the rest I suggested.

There is an old saying, Listen to the fans and you will be sitting with them. In Flanno's case, he didn't listen to the fans and is now sitting with them. Maybe he should have listened to the fans in this case. I think he should have been able to see what myself and many others could see and made the appropriate changes. To me it is a head scratcher that he didn't make those changes, especially when we kept losing.

Flanno said Kyle was the best halfback at our club and that Kyle was one of our best. He also said, that the coaching staff agreed with those statements. Then as soon as Young is promoted to head coach, he makes the changes that many have been calling for. Did Dean Young really agree with those statements? Or was his pissing in Flanno's pocket and leading him astray on purpose? If I was our assistant, I would have been telling Flanno to pick Reed from after the Charity Shield and told him his coaching career depended on it.

I could also say, Flanno dug his own grave and you all know how much I supported Flanno and wanted him to succeed as our coach.

 

[Eric]

I was just thinking, Flanno not picking Reed or Pasifiki Tonga really gave Dean Young an opening and opportunity to look good. If we do turn the corner, due to Reed's inclusion, Young will be getting all the accolades. I know Flanno stuck with Kyle and since the Charity Shield, myself and many others have been calling Reed to be picked at halfback with Acko 5/8, but many on this forum were of the opinion that Reed wasn't ready for first grade this year and should spend the year in NSW Cup. All those who were of that opinion, have now gone silent. I also said Pasifiki Tonga should have been there instead of Lawrie all season. I could hardly believe Flanno kept picking Lawrie and kept leaving Loko out.

As you all know, I have been calling for Leilua to be moved to prop and for Halangahu to be in the first grade squad. Young still hasn't moved Leilua to the prop rotation, but he has done all of the rest I suggested.

There is an old saying, Listen to the fans and you will be sitting with them. In Flanno's case, he didn't listen to the fans and is now sitting with them. Maybe he should have listened to the fans in this case. I think he should have been able to see what myself and many others could see and made the appropriate changes. To me it is a head scratcher that he didn't make those changes, especially when we kept losing.

Flanno said Kyle was the best halfback at our club and that Kyle was one of our best. He also said, that the coaching staff agreed with those statements. Then as soon as Young is promoted to head coach, he makes the changes that many have been calling for. Did Dean Young really agree with those statements? Or was his pissing in Flanno's pocket and leading him astray on purpose? If I was our assistant, I would have been telling Flanno to pick Reed from after the Charity Shield and told him his coaching career depended on it.

I could also say, Flanno dug his own grave and you all know how much I supported Flanno and wanted him to succeed as our coach.

I was/am of that opinion and I'm not silent. In a perfect world Reed would have many more games in NSW Cup and make his NRL debut late in the year. But circumstances have made it so there is no other option. LKT and O'Neill are both injured, Kyle had to go so unless we are going to make a deal with Parra to bring back JDB to play halfback this week, Reed is the only option available.

As is, it was a nice touch from Deano to go on the short drive over to Reed's parents house and tell him what was going on personally in front of his family. Must give Reed a lot of confidence.

You have been raving on and on about how sacking Flanno wasn't the right move.

 

[Frank Facer]

I was/am of that opinion and I'm not silent. In a perfect world Reed would have many more games in NSW Cup and make his NRL debut late in the year. But circumstances have made it so there is no other option. LKT and O'Neill are both injured, Kyle had to go so unless we are going to make a deal with Parra to bring back JDB to play halfback this week, Reed is the only option available.

As is, it was a nice touch from Deano to go on the short drive over to Reed's parents house and tell him what was going on personally in front of his family. Must give Reed a lot of confidence.

You have been raving on and on about how sacking Flanno wasn't the right move.

You must have missed when I said, Flanno has finally lost me on more than one occasion. It was him not picking Reed over Kyle ,not picking Loko over Lawrie and not moving Leilua to prop, which really lost me. He had better options, but didn't take them. I am questioning why his "assistants" including Dean Young didn't advise him to make those changes either?

I also said if Flanno had been playing Reed and Loko from the beginning of the season, we "could" have beaten Canterbury, Parra, Gold Coast and Manly. So it won't be a surprise to me if things do improve with Reed and Loko in the side, but Dean Young will be getting the accolades.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

You are asking the board to jump off the gravy train … they are the people who can make the changes you are talking about

No I'm not pal. I am and others on here, are calling out a Board that is on a different page to each other over the smooth running of the club, instead it has led us to be called a basket case, a train wreck by outsiders. That hurts a bloke who has followed the RedV brand for over a half century. This board runs our club like the socialists manage a national economy. We have had three coaches in 8 yrs, not made the finals in past 7/8 yrs, unable to attract elite players yet we still allow some of our best to leave. There are some positive signs with our Academy, a new High Performance Centre and a crop of outstanding juniors. But above all we need stable directors to point us in the correct direction for a healthy future.

 

[RufusRex]

The St George Directors on the JV board are Doust/Piggot/Coyne and Justin Busilkovski
But let's not kid ourselves here, that side is very very heavily influenced by St George Leagues Club and District Rugby league and that is where Piggott/Doust/Johnston/Young lurk .. It is that group that decide who is on the board of the JV
Lancaster and WIN have zero decision making in who is on the Saints side of the board - there is literally nothing he can do about it and as the years go by the chair will eventually switch back to St George.

To get required change new blood is needed at the leagues club level and to get onto the board there you need to essentially be a member for 20 years/police vetted by connections of those on the board/provide notice you want to run 12 years ago and then watch as the cabal of directors tighten ranks preventing any real change anyway.

It is really quite disturbing the lengths they have gone to to consolidate their power base.

it doesnt matter that the fish rots from the top, the top simply dont care enough to self sacrfice themselves for the betterment of the joint venture.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Willie Talau likely to take Ennis' spot as AC, but who will we bring here or look internally for our DC. Jeez I wonder what relationship Young has with Jack. He'd be perfect for the job.

You are shocked over something I wrote Jd.

 

[Justadragon]

It’s been 2 days and DY has impressed most so I will do what I always do and back him until he deserves otherwise. You can’t ask for much more than what he has already done. The decision to rid of Ennis was interesting especially the reason for it. It might be that they weren’t on the same page since Ennis started and you can’t say our attacking structures was elite. Anyway we move forward now and try to reassemble a squad worthy to wear the red V. God only knows it has been a long time since there was any pride shown in the jumper. All the best DY give the fans something to be joyous about at least give us a fighting spirit worthy of the day we are soon to represent.

 

[Justadragon]

You are shocked over something I wrote Jd.

I’d like for him to be a tackling coach but just can’t see the club taking him on as the DC. Not for the time being anyway.

 

[Dragons Chris]

I’d like for him to be a tackling coach but just can’t see the club taking him on as the DC. Not for the time being anyway.

Is there such a thing as a tackling coach? Isn't it just the job of the assistant in charge of defence?

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

As you all know, I have been calling for Leilua to be moved to prop and for Halangahu to be in the first grade squad. Young still hasn't moved Leilua to the prop rotation, but he has done all of the rest I suggested.

Luch has been outstanding this season and solid in past yrs in his specialist position. Why mess him round, unless we are unable to land a decent bookend to partner KK and given Loko is not quite primed to start yet imho.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

I’d like for him to be a tackling coach but just can’t see the club taking him on as the DC.

You think Jack with his dozen yrs of NRL experience can only manage correct tackling techniques, but not developing and implementing defensive strategies, ensuring the team maintains a strong defensive structure during games, focus on improving the team's ability to prevent the opposition from scoring and managing defensive drills during practice. Jack could do all that on his head.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Ryan is a decent call but a bit same same to toby

Thats where Young put him as did Flanagan. Hope he is same as Toby in all aspects, but instead of Toby bashing himself against a brick wall every hit up Ryan will have some more room to move on the edge, to use his offload, same as Toby, if needed. Plus his defense will be more solid than Su'as...

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

Is there such a thing as a tackling coach? Isn't it just the job of the assistant in charge of defence?

Kinda what I figured too.

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

it doesnt matter that the fish rots from the top, the top simply dont care enough to self sacrfice themselves for the betterment of the joint venture.

Therein lies the major problem I have been banging on about. Most are business men/women, suits and who probably wield the most power over the remainder, made up of a crop of former Dragons players, all of whom are also on the board of the Saints Leagues Club...

 

[RedVHeartbeat]

This is also a major part of Deanos good start Jd, informing Kades family in person why he had handed their son a NRL debut during such a chaotic time for the club. Kudos to Dean Young.

“I thought it was important that his parents understood the reason why I’m giving him the opportunity.” People will probably judge my decision and say that we’re zero and seven and chucking in a kid on debut on Anzac Day is risky. But I wouldn’t do it unless I believed in him and I wanted him to know that I believe in him and that his parents fully knew that I’m in there for the long haul with him and he’s a big part of our future".