Matty Johns has declared the Newcastle Knights would welcome Dom Young back “with open arms,” and he could return to the Steel City as early as next round. It was revealed on Tuesday that the Sydney Roosters are willing to allow the English winger to leave the club if he can secure a deal with an NRL rival for the rest of the year.
The England international has endured a lukewarm time at the Bondi club and hasn’t lived up to the heights he reached during his three seasons at Newcastle. He was dumped to reserve grade by coach Trent Robinson two weeks ago, with Daniel Tupou, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia, and Billy Smith ahead of him in the pecking order.
According to reports, the Knights are the favorites to snare Young and bring him back to the club. The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday that the Roosters are willing to chip in $250,000 of his $450,000 contract for this season, meaning rival clubs will only have to pay $200,000.
Discussing the situation on SEN radio on Tuesday, Knights great Johns said the club should pull out all the stops to get Young back. Newcastle are currently using Greg Marzhew and James Schiller as their wingers, with Schiller the likely man to make way if Young returns.
“Not a doubt. Straight away with open arms,” Johns said when asked if the Knights should bring Young back. “The Knights will be interested. He’s too good a player to go back home (to England) and play in the Super League and give up on the NRL dream. I’d love to see him back in Newcastle.”
Dom Young ‘needs to get out of Sydney.’
Roosters champion Bryan Fletcher suggested the bright lights of Sydney might have “been too much” for Young, who would be much better suited to being out of the spotlight in Newcastle. “He’s a very quiet young bloke, really humble,” Johns said. “The Roosters’ system has never really looked like it’s suited him. He’s been caught out (in defense) numerous times, but at Newcastle he never looked that vulnerable.”
Fletcher had earlier said, “I don’t think Sydney is the place for Dom. He was happy up in Newcastle because it was laid-back. He’s a very laid-back character… He needs to get out of Sydney.”
Co-host Joel Caine agreed the Knights would be favorites but suggested a move back to the Super League isn’t out of the equation. But Caine also floated the Parramatta Eels as contenders to snare the giant winger.
“They could have the Foxx (Josh Addo-Carr) and Young on the wings,” he said. “That is speed to burn. Zac Lomax could move into the centers.”
