Young told he can talk to rivals as Roosters exit looms

George Clarke and Scott Bailey |

Englishman Dom Young looks like doing a U-turn and head back to Newcastle from the Roosters.
Englishman Dom Young looks like doing a U-turn and head back to Newcastle from the Roosters.

Dom Young is a chance of making a mid-season return to Newcastle, after the Sydney Roosters gave the star English winger permission to talk to rivals.

Less than 18 months into a $2 million four-year deal with the Tricolours, Young has been told he is free to leave this season if a deal can be struck for his exit.

One of the Roosters’ high-profile signings at the start of last year, Young scored 25 tries in 29 games for the club before being dropped last month.

Dom Young.
Dom Young celebrates scoring a try against rivals South Sydney in round five at Accor Stadium. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

The successful switch of rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase, rise of Robert Toia and return of Billy Smith mean Young’s path back to the NRL does not appear easy.

The Roosters have returned to form in the past fortnight with that young trio joining Daniel Tupou and James Tedesco in a backline that has helped put on 82 points in two games. 

Young was one of the most dangerous wingers in the NRL when he left Newcastle at the end of 2023, after helping take them to a semi-final.

The Knights desperately missed his early-set yardage through periods of last season, and have lacked strike for most of this year with the worst attack in the NRL.

Newcastle would therefore loom as favourites to regain the 23-year-old’s services, given they had desperately wanted to keep him.

For a mid-season switch to happen, a deal would need to be brokered between the Roosters, Knights and Young before the June 30 transfer deadline.

Young could also explore other options, with the 23-year-old likely to have a number of suitors.

AAP