Updated ,first published
New St George Illawarra coach Dean Young has sensationally dropped halfback Kyle Flanagan just a day after his father and coach parted the club, handing a debut to rookie playmaker Kade Reed on Anzac Day.
Young has wasted no time in leaving his imprint on the Dragons after being handed the job on an interim basis. The former premiership-winning forward has shaken up his brains trust, with assistant coach Michael Ennis told on Tuesday he would be surplus to requirements. Ennis, who was touted as an option to replace Flanagan in a long-term role, joins Shane Flanagan and football general manager Ben Haran on the departure list.
The shake-up continued when Young named his first team for the Anzac Day clash, considered the most important club game of the season.
Promising playmaker Reed will make his debut in the No.7 jersey in what could be a changing of the guard. The 20-year-old was a standout during the pre-season, but has so far been overlooked due to his age, slight frame and concerns that he could be scarred if thrown in too early into a struggling side.
However, Young has made his first big selection call after taking charge in a bid to snap an 11-game losing streak dating back to last season. Kyle Flanagan was named on the bench.
“There are lots of things that you don’t enjoy about coaching, but when you give young men opportunity to reach their, their dreams, that’s the best part,” said Young, who delivered the news to Reed and his parents at their home.
“His parents understood the reason why I’m giving him the opportunity. People will probably judge my decision and say that we’re 0 and 7 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’m in there for the long haul with him and he’s a big part of the future.”
Young said Flanagan’s role against the Sydney Roosters would be as cover for the halves and hooker Damien Cook.
“I spoke to him about the reasons why, which will stay between us, and, I’ll see him tomorrow, but he’s on board for whatever the team needs,” he said.
Ennis was a part of the 2016 Cronulla premiership-winning team that Flanagan coached, and the pair were close.
The 42-year-old was popular with the Dragons players, has been praised for his footy IQ, and had been described as the club’s best off-season recruit.
“Dean advised me this morning that he is changing his coaching structure and that he would no longer require me in my role,” Ennis said.
“Whilst I was surprised, I could do nothing more than wish Dean, the playing group and the club all the best.”
Young said it a tough decision to communicate. “I’ve known Mick for a long time, I played with him back in 2005, I’ve got a good relationship with him,” he said.
“Unfortunately, he’s part of the change, we need a circuit breaker. Potentially he could be a good head coach down the track but, for me, I need different voices, I need the playing group to feel different.”
Fellow assistant Young was appointed the club’s interim coach on Monday, with Ennis learning of the news via journalists – not club officials. Dragons NSW Cup coach Willie Talau has been elevated to an assistant coaching role, while Tom Eisenhuth will also have a greater role in the Red V brains trust.
Meanwhile, one of the leading candidates for the Dragons’ top job, Ben Hornby, is in the middle of negotiating a coaching extension beyond this season at South Sydney, but has already been given the club’s blessing to leave if he can land a head-coaching role elsewhere.
“We’d love Ben to stay with the club, he’s made a huge contribution to us since he’s been here, but we also understand he has ambitions to be a head coach at some point,” Souths CEO Blake Solly said.
Souths captain Cameron Murray was stunned Hornby had not already been targeted by rival clubs, saying his communication skills and what he had achieved in the game as a player could not be ignored.
There was also a view held by some at Souths that Hornby would give the Dragons a much-needed fresh voice, opposed to Young, who has been working at the club during their struggles.
“The way he took over when ‘JD’ [Jason Demetriou] left in 2024, and the job he did when we were in the trenches and under pressure, that speaks for itself,” Murray said on Tuesday.
“He’s a great communicator, knows the game inside and out, he’s played at the highest level, so he knows what it’s like as a player and a coach.
“He’s very relatable and great to talk to. If you need to sit down and talk to someone about your game, he’s always got great advice – he’s got everything it takes to become a really successful head coach.
“It hurts me to sing his praises, and I hope it doesn’t contribute to him leaving us, but you also can’t be mad at him. He deserves a chance.”
Rabbitohs prop Keaon Koloamatangi has also moved to allay fears he was getting cold feet after signing a five-year deal with the Dragons from next season.
“I live with no regrets in my life; that was the best thing for me and my family at the time,” Koloamatangi said.
“It’s a decision that I made, I stand by it, and I will be there next year. Obviously, [the Dragons situation] is unfortunate, but no matter what jersey I have on and who is my coach, I’ll always put my best foot forward.”
Chris Barrett is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former South-East Asia correspondent for the Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.