What’s the Buzz: Newcastle star Dominic Young chased by the Roosters
The Newcastle Knights have plenty of money to throw at star Dominic Young, but can they compete with the Roosters’ recruitment machine?
NRL
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Newcastle Knights winger Dominic Young had dinner at the home of Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson last week.
A few days earlier his manager Michael Cincotta had coffee with Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis to officially launch the Roosters’ bid to sign the highly regarded Great Britain Test winger.
We all know Robbo and his billionaire chairmen are hard to beat in player recruitment.
The Dolphins, Gold Coast Titans, Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs have all expressed a strong interest in Young but are unlikely to win this five-club tug of war.
This is despite two of the league’s heaviest hitters — Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould — both showing him over their club facilities at Redcliffe and Belmore.
The Roosters have now surged into favouritism if the 21-year-old winger is to leave Newcastle.
Robinson is employing the same tactics he used to lure Brandon Smith to Bondi from the Melbourne Storm.
Dinner at his eastern suburbs home to sell the culture and values of the game’s glamour club.
Young would be a great signing.
Imagine him in the same backline as James Tedesco, Joseph Suaalii and Joey Manu.
Young is in a position where the Knights will offer more money.
And the dreadlocked flyer has become a real personality player and fan favourite at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium.
Yet at the Roosters he gets the opportunity to win NRL premierships and develop his game under a three-time premiership-winning coach.
Cincotta says Young will make a decision in the next week.
“He has a big call to make,” Cincotta said. “And he wants it done before the start of the season.
“He’s enjoyed playing his football in Newcastle but there’s a lot of interest and great opportunities that he needs to consider.”
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