I’m feeling a bit devil’s advocate today so I’m going to attempt to articulate why Dean Young need not be a wrist-slitting choice. * braces for impact *
* His teammates have always pegged him as a future coach. I remember a player survey in 09 or 10 asking players which teammate would most likely become a coach and our answer was like 90% Dean Young. From his playing days I recall one moment in particular when he gave Corey Payne an almighty, and warranted, spray for bludging on the blind side. He didn’t miss.
* The mental toughness he displayed to return from horrific injury and illness during his playing career was extraordinary and earns him all measure of respect.
Here’s some quotes from Wayne Bennett the day Young retired. Now, these quotes do not come from a vested interested, or some ulterior motive to undermine the club or anything. There was nothing to gain from them other than to pay respect to Young:
"And this is why I want to do this article," Bennett continued, "because Dean Young was my inspiration."
"As a coach, you can't let him down because Dean Young never found an excuse in his life. And he had a bloody good excuse to retire in 2006 when he got that (golden staph) after that knee operation.
"The doctor told him he'd never play again - but excuses aren't a part of his genetic makeup.
"They just don't exist in Dean's life. There are a lot of wonderful blokes in that club but let me tell you, he is the heartbeat.
"I mean, no-one will ever know what sort of pain he had to go through and the mental toughness it took to continue . . . but having worked with him for three years, I saw what he went through every day.
"I have an untold respect for what he did. People talk about pain being a bit of discomfort. In the end this guy couldn't train until Saturday - and could only do the last 15 or 20 minutes.
"And I want to tell you this, too. We haven't heard the last of Dean Young - because one day we'll all be calling him coach. You heard it here first."
* Success at Cowboys. As assistant coach he helped the Cowboys reach the prelim final last year, but aside from that he helped previously unsung or unheralded players reach their potential.
Here’s a quote from former Cowboy Tom Gilbert who made his Origin debut while a Cowboy in 2022
Cowboys’ assistant coach Young, who won a premiership with St George Illawarra in 2010, was a no-nonsense and team-first player who has been a role model for Gilbert.
“The way Deano played and conducts himself epitomises the kind of person I want to be,” Gilbert said.
“He is very switched-on and hard working. He was not the flashiest player but his dedication to being good at the small things was second-to-none and that’s why he had such a successful career.
“I have tried to learn from him and mimic some of those habits the best I can.”
* Communication style.
There’s a clip here of him mic’d up at a Cowboys session, and what I like about the way he coaches here – the way he
teaches – is that he asks the players for answers rather than just dictating. He engages them to make sure they know what they’re doing and why instead of just quietly going through the motions. I’m sure this approach is why Reece Robson approaches him at the end to chat more and ask questions (Robson – btw another player whose career has now improved to the point of getting an Origin jersey).
* L plater coach? Perhaps. But he’s been an NRL assistant since 2015 in different environments, has also been an assistant for the Tonga national team since 2019 (in November 2019, Tonga defeated the Kangaroos – the first team aside from NZ or Britain to beat Australia in 41 years).
* Our players. Being an assistant, then an interim coach before Griffin came here knows many of our players already – even the young ones. Guess which coach gave Bud Sullivan his NRL debut?
* Cheating. He's never been banned for cheating
[DISCLAIMER - FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY. THE AUTHOR IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH THE DEAN YOUNG CAMP AND IS MERELY TRYING TO FIND THE BRIGHT SIDE]
