The bid to succeed Brad Arthur was widely considered a race in two between Josh Hannay and Jason Ryles,given that interim Trent Barrett is likely to be overlooked. However,sources not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead that the club granted Young – currently an assistant to Shane Flanagan at St George Illawarra – a second interview. Young has informed the Dragons of his interest in the position.
A Sydney concreter took the day off work to line up against NSW Blues superstar Latrell Mitchell during an Origin training session.
Young has impressed Parramatta powerbrokers with the way he has discreetly made his pitch. Young will now continue through the application process with the heavyweight support of Bennett,the Eels’ initial target.
The seven-time premiership-winning coach,who knocked back the Eels to rejoin South Sydney,has a long association with Young. The pair combined at St George Illawarra as player and coach to steer the joint-venture outfit to its only premiership,in 2010.
“You can’t coach if you can’t lead. He ticks that box,” Bennett told this masthead. “He’s an outstanding person. Simple as that. When you go through all the details of what makes someone outstanding,that’s what he is.
“The best part is Dean actually wants to do it,he’s applied for the job. It’s not about what I think. He obviously thinks he can do it and I know Dean Young well enough to know he wouldn’t have applied for the job if he didn’t have the qualifications and the ability to do it.
Dean Young is a contender to take over at Parramatta.Getty
“Those champion players,they don’t like failure,no matter what they do. He’s in one of those categories. He’s doesn’t do failure. One thing about Dean,he doesn’t talk it. He lives it. That separates him from a lot of people.”
In a pointer to Bennett’s regard for Young,the seven-time premiership-winning mentor has previously attempted to employ him as an assistant at the Rabbitohs and Dolphins. Instead,Young’s coaching CV includes two stints at the Dragons,three years under Todd Payten in North Queensland,as well as roles with Tonga and the Indigenous All Stars.
“I wouldn’t have tried to hire him if I didn’t think he could handle[NRL head coaching],” Bennett said. “I know he is one of the most outstanding players I’ve ever coached,someone I regard as a very close friend. You have to remember that guy played with half a leg,with one leg.
“He got staph in it and couldn’t train most of the time. He was an absolutely outstanding leader. Ben Hornby,they were great friends and still are great friends.
“I know Dean Young well enough to know he wouldn’t have applied for the job if he didn’t have the qualifications and the ability to do it.”
Wayne Bennett on Dean Young
“Between those two guys,they were great for me personally during my three years at the Dragons. I’m quite sure he is capable.[Laughing] He coached the Dragons pretty well when I was there. Ben Hornby is in the same category.”
Also competing for the Parramatta role is former Roosters assistant Ryles,who knocked back the Dragons job to complete his coaching apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy at Melbourne. Hannay,currently the assistant to Billy Slater at the Maroons,has held interim head-coaching roles at Cronulla and North Queensland.
“With the exception of[former South Sydney coach] Jason Demetriou,who was in the mix[at Parramatta],they are all assistant coaches,” Bennett said.
“No one has more qualifications than Dean in that department. That’s the challenge for the people selecting it,they have all been assistant coaches. It’s not my prerogative to make their decision for them.
Dean Young and Wayne Bennett after their grand final win at the Dragons in 2010.Getty
“They have to make a decision on who they think is the best person to coach their club. If it’s Dean,I would be absolutely elated for him. If it’s the other guys,I’d be pleased for them.”
Bennett said he could envision the day he would go up against Young in the opposition coaching box.
“I know Dean:I’d want to win and he’d want to win,” he said. “We would still be great friends after it. There would be no stupidity in the game or trying to get one up on each other,neither of us are made of that stuff. That’s one of the qualities I love about him.”
While Bennett knocked back the Eels,he was full of admiration for the western Sydney franchise.
“It’s a wonderful club,it was the club of the ’80s,” he said. “It’s had some success over its time and they have had some lean years. They’re a bit like the Dragons,they didn’t win a premiership for a long time until Dean played in that premiership team.
“Those clubs have been through the Super League war,the reduction of teams,all of that type of stuff. They have survived and are stronger than they have ever been. It’s a credit to them,there’s nothing there you wouldn’t want to coach.”
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