St George Illawarra interim coach Dean Young has publicly detailed the difficult conversation in which he informed his former teammate and fellow rugby league great Michael Ennis that he had been sacked from the club's coaching staff. This move forms part of a significant shakeup as the Dragons confront a potential 0-8 start to the NRL season.
A Personal and Professional Decision
Ennis, who joined the Red V as an assistant and attack coach at the beginning of the year, received the news directly from Young on Tuesday. The two shared the field as teammates at the Dragons back in 2005, adding a layer of personal history to the professional decision.
'I've known Mick for a long time. I played with him back in 2005. I've got a good relationship with him, and unfortunately, he's part of the change,' Young stated, emphasising the decision was made in the club's best interests.
Seeking a 'Circuit Breaker'
Young elaborated on the rationale behind the dismissal, highlighting the urgent need for transformation within the struggling team. 'We need a circuit breaker. We need things to look different. We need things to feel different,' he explained.
Despite the termination, Young expressed respect for Ennis's coaching abilities. 'I've got nothing against him as a coach, I think, 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.'
Ennis Expresses Surprise
Michael Ennis, who had been in contention for the interim coaching role himself, revealed he was taken aback by the decision. In a statement released on Tuesday, he wrote: 'Dean advised me this morning that he was changing his coaching structure and would no longer require me in my role. Whilst I was surprised, I could do nothing more than wish Dean, the playing group and the club all the best.'
This development follows Young's previous interim stint in charge of St George Illawarra for six matches during the 2020 season, providing him with prior experience in a leadership capacity at the club.
Future Coaching Prospects Emerge
Concurrently, South Sydney Rabbitohs players have reportedly endorsed Ben Hornby as a strong candidate to become St George Illawarra's permanent head coach. Hornby, the halfback in the Dragons' last premiership-winning team in 2010, currently serves as an assistant under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs.
This endorsement sets the stage for a potential competition between Hornby and Dean Young for the permanent leadership role at the helm of St George Illawarra, as the club navigates this period of transition and seeks to reverse its fortunes on the field.
