Young talent time: Reed to debut for Dragons

Dean Young's first act as Dragons coach was to tell rookie halfback Kade Reed and his parents that the 20-year-old would make his NRL debut in the ANZAC Day clash with the Roosters.

Young, who was appointed as interim coach after the Dragons parted ways with Shane Flanagan on Monday, wasted little time putting his stamp on the team after naming Reed in place of Kyle Flanagan. 

Reed, a Wests Illawarra junior, will make his NRL debut in one of the biggest games on the NRL calendar after being given the No.7 jersey, with Flanagan named on the six-man interchange in jersey No.18.

“I got told by Tim and Andrew last night around 5.30 that I’m going to be head coach for the remainder of the season,” Young said.

“From there, I went home to tell my wife to buckle up. I apologised to my three kids about what’s going to happen next, and then I got into the car and drove over to Kade Reed’s house and told him that he’s about to make his debut.

“I thought it was important that his parents understood the reason why I’m giving him the opportunity.

"I wanted him to know that I believe in him and that his parents fully knew that I’m in there for the long haul with him, and he’s a big part of the future.”

The selection move was the most significant change made by Young to the team which crashed to a seventh consecutive loss this season against South Sydney last Saturday.

A former Illawarra Cutters ballboy, Reed was identified as a star of the future after playing in the Pre-season Challenge clash with the Knights and he has been starring in the NSW Cup. 

The 20-year-old is set to become the seventh Dragons Academy graduate to debut for the club since the start of last year, joining Hamish Stewart, Dylan Egan, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Nick Tsougranis, Hayden Buchanan and Jacob Halangahu. 

"There’s lots of things that you don’t enjoy about coaching, but when you give young men opportunity to reach their dreams, that’s the best part," Young said.

“It reminded me of the last time I was in this situation, and I was able to give Cody Ramsey his debut, and you just don’t forget those moments.

“To just sit in the loungeroom, in front of his parents and his brother Cooper, and tell him that he’s about to play on ANZAC Day means a lot to me.”

Ryan Couchman returns from suspension in the secondrow in a straight swap for Jaydn Su'A, who received a three-match after being sent off against the Rabbitohs, while Matt Feagai replaces the injured David Fale on the wing.

Winger Christian Tuipulotu, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, was also named on the interchange in jersey No.19, with the bench comprising of Pacifiki Tonga, Halangahu, Josh Kerr, Blake Lawrie and Flanagan.

Young said Flanagan would provide cover for hooker Damien Cook. as well as Reed and five-eighth Daniel Atkinson. 

“’I've got a really good relationship with Kyle. I spoke to him about the reasons why ... and he’s on board for whatever the team needs," he said.

Meanwhile, Sharks co-captain Cam McInnes and Cowboys strike secondrower Jeremiah Nanai are set to make their first appearances of the season in Townsville on Friday night.

McInnes, who plays lock or hooker, will make his return for the Sharks after an eight-month layoff with an ACL injury sustained in last season's Round 24 and has been named on the interchange.

“We want to see him be Cam,” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. “The guy’s a leader, he goes head first into everything he does. You can see his leadership in the way he connects to the team and that’s what you want to see.

“We’ll see the intensity that he plays with, he doesn’t waver from the first minute to the last. Knowing a man of his calibre, how mentally tough and physically prepared he is, I expect nothing different.

“We try to ease him back in and go step by step, but with Cam that’s not easy because he’s built different.” 

Nanai has been named in the secondrow after recovering from a shoulder reconstruction following an injury playing for Samoa in the Pacific Championships in November.

Winger Murray Taulagi and hooker Reed Mahoney have been named to return after missing last weekend’s fixture against Manly through concussion.

Their inclusion sees Zac Laybutt and Soni Luke revert to the interchange.

The Sharks are coming off a bye and coach Craig Fitzgibbon has made one other selection change to the team beaten by the Roosters in Round 6, with Tonga winger Sione Katoa listed as a reserve.

Mawene Hiroti shifts to the wing and Sifa Talakai has been promoted from the bench to start at centre.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has also reacted to his side's 21-20 loss to the Broncos last Saturday night, with centre Starford To'a and winger Luke Laulilii to form a new left edge pairing.

To’a will start in the centres for the first time this season against Canberra on Thursday night, with Patrick Herbert shifting to the bench after two NRL appearances, while 18-year-old sensation Heamasi Makasini has been dropped.

The loss of Kangaroos secondrower Hudson Young due to suspension sees Noah Martin join the Raiders starting side. Veteran prop Josh Papalii is out with a calf injury.

The Bulldogs welcome back skipper Stephen Crichton for Friday night's trip to Brisbane after the superstar centre missed two games with a shoulder injury, but Lebanon international Jacob Kiraz is sidelined by a knee injury.

With Payne Haas (knee) and Corey Jensen (pulmonary embolism) sidelined, the Broncos will have a new-look front row, with Ben Talty and Jack Gosiewksi named as the starting props and Cory Paix returns (head knock) at hooker.

Centre Kotoni Staggs (planter facia) and fullback Jesse Arthars (calf) have been named.