KIERSTEN DUKE: Dean Young’s fresh approach could be just what St George Illawarra Dragons need

Shane Flanagan’s exit from St George Illawarra feels less like a shock and more like the inevitable end to a partnership that was quite obviously heading south.

In a results driven competition like the NRL patience only stretches so far whether you’re a CEO of a club or a fan, when performances continue to drift below expectations, changes are demanded.

For the Dragons, I think that change may prove to be the best thing that could have happened.

The decision to move Flanagan on signals that the club is no longer willing to entertain excuses or below average results. Flanagan arrived with the aura of a premiership winning coach, a hero who had guided Cronulla to their historic 2016 title. The hope was that experience, toughness and pedigree would drag St George Illawarra back into relevance. Instead, the Dragons seemed to remain stuck in the same cycle that has frustrated fans for years. The teams’ defensive lapses and inconsistent results ooze the identity of a team who are just entirely unsure of themselves.

That is why this week feels so important.

The appointment of Dean Young as interim coach brings not just a fresh change but more importantly, something that feels truly authentic. Young understands St George Illawarra in a way few others can. He knows the history, the standards and the expectation that comes with the famous red V. He started off as a ball boy for the club before playing over 200 games. He’s bled for the jersey and has long been regarded as one of the game’s most respected football minds.

Sometimes clubs overthink coaching appointments. They chase the biggest name, the loudest profile or the most decorated resume. But often the right person is already in the building or waiting in the wings. Young genuinely feels like that person.

We’re onto a new chapter and Young gets an opportunity many thought should have come earlier.

There is also a practical upside to an interim appointment. While Young has openly spoken about wanting to be a long term NRL coach, he steps in without the baggage of a long term contract - for now.

His approach to the job seems simple. Hand the reins back to the players, let them find their voices, reconnect them and restore confidence to get the side playing with pride.

The confidence in which Young has spoken about his new role and the clarity he has provided feels powerful.

Players often respond immediately to a coaching change because it resets the environment. Young hasn’t just provided a reset, he’s provided a genuine shake up. One of his first moves saw him drop the former coach;s son, Kyle Flanagan, before personally driving over to young Kade Reed’s house to let him know he’s to make his debut in the number seven jersey for one of the club’s biggest games each year- the Anzac Day match against the Roosters.

Prior to the sacking of Shane Flanagan, there was speculation around politics and personal agendas at the Dragons. Dare I even murmur the word nepotism?

With Young taking the crown there will be none of that moving forward.

Dragons’ fans are among the most passionate and loyal in rugby league. They’ve endured years of disappointment, but it looks like the tides are changing and their loyalty isn’t far off being rewarded.

This does not mean Young is guaranteed success overnight, despite Manly interim coach Kieran Foran showing that it’s certainly possible. But a momentum swing in sport often begins with belief, and belief has been in short supply at the Dragons. I truly believe Young can restore that.

As for Shane Flanagan, there’s no chance (unless he decides) that he’ll be out of the game forever, but I doubt he will be a head coach again.

He remains an experienced operator with plenty to offer, Young said this himself. But at St George Illawarra, the Shane Flanagan simply never clicked the way many expected.

Now the page turns. We’re onto a new chapter and Young gets an opportunity many thought should have come earlier.

The Dragons get a reset. The fans get hope.

This could be the start of something genuinely positive.