Dom Young’s proposed move from Sydney Roosters to Newcastle Knights has hit a snag, according to reports Down Under.
Despite starting the season on the Roosters’ right edge, England international Young has fallen out of the side and down the pecking order in recent weeks. His last NRL outing came on April 19 and since then he has been seen plying his trade in the New South Wales Cup.
He has also been given permission to find a new club, despite having two and a half years left to run on his deal with the Roosters. Newcastle are the team in the frame, with the Knights opening talks to re-sign the winger 18 months after seeing him leave the club.
Reports earlier in the week suggested a deal could be completed before the weekend, with the Roosters willing to contribute towards Young’s wages. However, according to the Daily Telegraph, talks have now stalled with the two clubs struggling to reach an agreement on the percentage of wages the Roosters should pay.
As such, if an impasse is reached, Young might be forced to look elsewhere for game time opportunities. However, given Newcastle winger Greg Marzhew has been ruled out for the next month, the Knights might just be willing to pay a little extra to make the deal happen.
Given the winger’s aspirations to be involved for England against Australia in this autumn’s Ashes series, he knows the importance of securing regular game time this season. If that isn’t going to come under Trent Robinson, which looks highly unlikely at this point, a move away could well be pivotal then.
NRL coach speaks out on Dom Young interest
Young made 51 appearances for the Knights, joining in 2021 from Huddersfield Giants, with 43 tries coming along the way and speaking this week, Newcastle boss Adam O’Brien admitted he would be keen to see the 23-year-old return.
“Myself, the club, the community never wanted to lose Dom in the first place,” O’Brien is quoted as saying. “If he wants to come home, everyone will have open arms.
“I understand at the moment he is still a Rooster. If he wants to come home, that whole stadium and town will embrace him and I know the playing group will too.”
He added: “A couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t thinking that we’re in a position where we potentially could get him back. But that’s Roosters’ business.”
