Scott Drinkwater Backs Dean Young for Dragons Coaching Role Ahead of 2027 Move
North Queensland Cowboys star Scott Drinkwater has publicly backed Dean Young to become St George Illawarra’s permanent head coach, months before the fullback begins the next chapter of his NRL career with the Dragons.
Drinkwater has signed a three-year agreement to join St George Illawarra from the 2027 season and believes Young has the qualities needed to lead the club’s rebuild.
The pair developed a strong relationship during Young’s time as an assistant coach at the Cowboys, where he joined the coaching staff in 2021.
Young is now serving as the Dragons’ interim coach and has emerged as a leading contender to take charge permanently next year. Former St George Illawarra player and coach Ben Hornby is also reportedly under consideration.
Although the Dragons have won only two of their past five matches under Young, their performances have become more competitive following a difficult beginning to the season.
The team entered the campaign among the favourites to finish at the bottom of the ladder, but Drinkwater believes Young has already improved its defensive commitment and overall effort.
The future Dragons fullback said he has begun monitoring the club more closely since agreeing to join it.
He has been particularly impressed by Young’s preference for selecting players who demonstrate defensive effort and a willingness to compete throughout matches.
According to Drinkwater, the Dragons are staying in contests for longer and producing much closer results than they did earlier in the season.
He described Young as an effective communicator who understands that different players require different approaches.
Drinkwater said Young knows when to challenge players publicly during video reviews and when a quieter individual conversation is more appropriate.
He also praised Young’s toughness, honesty and personal connection with the Dragons.
Young was born in Wollongong and spent his entire playing career with St George Illawarra, making him deeply connected to the club and its supporters.
Drinkwater said that passion could be valuable as the Dragons attempt to restore pride and build a stronger team culture.
While he hopes Young receives the permanent appointment, Drinkwater acknowledged that he will support whoever is selected.
He said he would not allow disappointment over the coaching decision to affect his attitude when he arrives at the club.
Focus remains on Cowboys finals push
Despite having already committed his future to the Dragons, Drinkwater said he remains fully invested in North Queensland’s push for a place in the finals.
He has spent eight seasons with the Cowboys and said his close friendships with teammates have made it easy to remain focused.
Drinkwater explained that he still enjoys arriving at training and playing alongside people with whom he has shared much of his NRL career.
He said there had been no tension surrounding his departure and that his immediate goal remained helping the Cowboys win matches.
North Queensland has returned to the top eight and remains firmly involved in the finals race.
Drinkwater said he understood that his time in Townsville was coming to an end, but that had not reduced his affection for the club or his determination to finish strongly.
Discussions with the Dragons have so far focused more on practical matters, such as finding a home and arranging childcare in Wollongong, rather than football strategy.
He joked that anyone able to help find daycare places for his children in the region was welcome to contact him.
Dragons prepare for major roster transformation
Drinkwater is expected to become one of the central figures in St George Illawarra’s revamped squad.
The Dragons have lacked consistent attacking creativity in recent seasons, and his speed, confidence and ability to create opportunities could provide the spark the club needs.
His move forms part of a wider recruitment drive that includes several experienced and high-quality players.
Keaon Koloamatangi is expected to provide leadership and physical strength in a promising young forward pack.
Luke Metcalf, Connor Watson and Phil Sami are also set to add experience and versatility across key positions.
However, Drinkwater is likely to arrive as the most prominent signing because of his ability to influence matches with both playmaking and individual brilliance.
He reinforced that reputation by kicking a decisive golden-point field goal in North Queensland’s dramatic win over Manly on Sunday.
The fullback said striking the ball cleanly in such a high-pressure moment brought both excitement and relief.
Drinkwater revealed that he had told his teammates during golden point that he wanted responsibility for the kick.
He felt his involvement and influence had increased as the match progressed, giving him the confidence to demand the decisive opportunity.
The 29-year-old said self-belief is essential when attempting to execute important plays under pressure.
North Queensland also has other capable field-goal options, including Jake Clifford, who can strike the ball accurately from long range.
However, Drinkwater believed the flow of the match made him the right player to take the shot.
He said players must be prepared to back their own ability when matches are on the line, and that confidence has consistently been one of his strongest qualities.
Cowboys await Tom Dearden’s return
The Cowboys’ victory strengthened their place inside the top eight ahead of a meeting with the Dolphins.
North Queensland will enter the match as favourites after the Dolphins suffered a heavy 66-0 defeat in their previous outing.
The Cowboys could also receive a significant boost through the return of playmaker Tom Dearden following an extended injury absence.
Drinkwater said he hoped Dearden would be available, although he joked that the team had expected him to return several times over the previous month.
Dearden’s inclusion would strengthen North Queensland’s attack and provide Drinkwater with another experienced playmaker during the crucial final stages of the regular season.
For now, Drinkwater remains determined to complete his Cowboys career successfully before turning his attention to the Dragons.
His public support for Young also offers an early indication of the leadership role he could assume at St George Illawarra.
As one of the club’s major recruits, Drinkwater is expected to play an important part in shaping both its attack and its wider culture.
Whether Young is appointed permanently remains uncertain, but Drinkwater believes his former Cowboys mentor has already demonstrated the communication skills, toughness and commitment required to lead the Dragons into 2027.
