By Jasper Bruce
Dean Young could do worse than give Kieran Foran a call as he begins the task of snapping St George Illawarra’s longest losing streak and avoiding their first wooden spoon as a joint venture.
The Dragons went almost 12 hours without a head coach on Monday after an 11-game losing streak led the last-placed NRL club to part ways with Shane Flanagan.
On Monday night, the struggling Dragons announced premiership player and assistant coach Young would take the reins for the remainder of the year.
“Dean understands this club better than most,” chief executive Tim Watsford said in a statement.
“He has a deep connection to the Dragons and the respect of our players and staff.”
Young’s first task is to settle on a team for the winless Dragons’ most important game of the regular season: the traditional Anzac Day clash against the Sydney Roosters.
The 42-year-old has little time to waste in turning the Dragons’ season around.
Only seven rounds in, the Red V is already two wins behind 16th-placed Gold Coast and in a fight to avoid their first last-placed finish since the Dragons and Steelers joined forces in 1999.
Prior to the ongoing 11-game run, the Dragons had never lost more than eight games in a row as a joint venture.
But Young need only look to the other side of Sydney for proof that dire situations can turn around quickly.
Foran had been untested as a head coach when Manly fired Anthony Seibold three games into the season and appointed him to take charge.
The Sea Eagles have won their three matches since to storm into sixth place on the ladder, with Foran’s more recent playing experience and club pedigree proving a hit with his team.
And the similarities between Young and Foran are noteworthy.
Both played in their respective club’s last premiership team more than a decade ago, but return with those previous golden days a long way in the rear-view mirror.
Unlike Foran, though, Young brings a long assistant coaching stint into the hot seat.
The son of Dragons legend and former coach Craig, Young served as interim coach when the club fired Paul McGregor during the 2020 season.
He was also on Todd Payten’s North Queensland coaching staff for three seasons, including in 2022, when the Cowboys came one converted try away from a grand final berth.
Young and his 2010 premiership teammate Ben Hornby are thought to be in the mix to take over on a full-time basis in 2027.
Hornby is currently an assistant to South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and became interim coach when the Rabbitohs fired Jason Demetriou in 2024.
“Whoever takes control of this club understands that there will be a significant amount of pressure and expectation, and rightly so,” said chairman Andrew Lancaster.
Until then, Young might take a leaf out of the Foran playbook as a huge task looms for 2026.