'Finals in 2027': Dragons outline lofty goals after Young appointment

St George Illawarra CEO Tim Watsfrod has outlined the club's goal to play finals football in 2027 as the Dragons officially unveiled Dean Young as their new coach.

The 2010 premiership winner took over on an interim basis in April but will now lead the club through to at least the end of 2028 after beating out a host of candidates for the role.

St George Illawarra are staring down the barrel of the club’s first wooden spoon but optimism is high Young will oversee an immediate rebound.

The Dragons have recruited heavily for 2027 and have a talented crop of youngsters the envy of rivals around the league. That, Watsford said, has led to high expectations for 2027 and beyond.

"We would like to be in a position that we are hopefully playing finals in 2027," Watsford said. "I'm not shy about saying that. 

"When I came into the business 12 months ago there was a clear mandate to drive change and look at how we bring the club back to where it needs to be. I couldn't expect that we'd be in the position we are on the ladder at the moment.

"That's a shock to everyone but it's also a chance for us to assess, look and ensure we've got the right structures from people in the business to drive success going forward. 

"With the recruits coming in, coupled with the young group that's coming through, particularly our pack, they're second to none. They're putting their dukes up, they're playing for Deano at the moment, you can see there's a fight and attitude to win. 

"They'll be rep players in the future, no doubt, so we're expecting success very soon."

Dragons have remodelled their football staff since Watsford took charge midway through last season, with Daniel Anderson coming on board as head of recruitment.

Young’s premiership-winning teammate Ben Creagh has stepped into the COO role and is heading up the football department following Ben Haran’s departure earlier this season.

The changes have led to a complete roster overhaul, with the exit of five players already confirmed and a number of others off contract and unlikely to remain beyond this season. 

In their place is a stack of high-quality recruits, including Scott Drinkwater, Connor Watson, Keaon Koloamatangi and Luke Metcalf.

The arrivals will complement a talented young core of players that have provided a bright spot in a difficult season.

The Couchman twins, Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart and Loko Pasifiki Tonga have lived up to the hype and shape as the long-term future of the club.

The playing group has heaped praise on Young since he took over in Round 8, with the youngsters in particular talking of his role in elevating their games. 

It's that development, along with the coach's desire to nurture the Illawarra’s rich talent pool that was a key factor in the decision to appoint Young. 

"He's been in audition for the past 12 weeks," Watsford said. "He's done a great job. We can see the intent in what the players are doing on the field, particularly on the weekend, showing fight for their coach. That plays into our decision making but it's bigger than one person. 

"Deano has been part of this club for a very long time but it's not the reason why he got the role. The reason he got the role is because of his connection with the playing group, his philosophy, what he sees in the club going forward and most importantly, particularly with Ben Creagh, our Chief Operating Officer, is the intent to drive talent from within this region. 

"The emphasis on pathways and academy has to be there and Deano presented a strong argument in terms of his views and philosophies around what the club should look like going forward."