North Queensland have announced that Dean Young will join their coaching panel ahead of the 2021 season, signing a three-year deal as an assistant coach.
Young joins the Cowboys having played an illustrious career at St. George Illawarra, playing over 200 games and being a part of their 2010 premiership team.
As well as winning a flag, Young has represented New South Wales in Origin Footy and Australia at world level.
Following his retirement in 2012, Young immediately transitioned into coaching, taking the reins of the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball side in 2013 and then the Dragonsโ NYC outfit a year later.
In 2015, Young was promoted to an assistant role at the Dragons, where he remained until being named as their interim coach for the final six rounds of the 2020 season.
The 36-year old has also been an assistant for Tonga and the Indigenous All-Stars.
Cowboysโ Director of Football Peter Parr told NRL.com that the appointment of Young, as well as incoming coach Todd Payten gives the club a clean slate to work with in 2021.
โIn our discussions with him, heโs been impressive in the clarity heโs spoken with, as well as what he believes he can bring to the Cowboys,โ he said.
โJust as importantly, Todd is a believer in Deanโs coaching ability and weโre extremely excited to have two of the best young coaches in the game at our club.โ
Todd Payten and Dean Young coaching Cowboys next year ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
— Eric. (@boi_THURSTON) September 25, 2020
So glad he didn’t get the head coaching gig at dragons, not that I don’t like him personally but you can see how it would have been more of the same with another former player turned coach disaster. If the players would lift for him as a new coach for the last 6 weeks why would they do so next year. Also to blame the rookies for last weeks result is a joke. Finally to not give Sailor the 5/8th role for the last 6 weeks was an even bigger joke.