Newcastle Knights head coach Adam O'Brien has addressed rumours that the club were interested in signing former winger Dominic Young from the Sydney Roosters.
Although he is contracted with the Sydney Roosters until the conclusion of the 2027 NRL season, Young has been linked with an exit from the club recently since being dropped to theย NSW Cupย reserve-grade competition.
Less than halfway through the four-year contract he signed with the club,ย The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that he had been granted permission to speak with rival clubs, effective immediately.
The update on Young's future at the Roosters comes after he wasย linked with a return to the Newcastle Knights a fortnight agoย after missing the Anzac Day clash against theย St George Illawarra Dragonsย due to his inconsistent form.
Now, Knights head coachย O'Brien has addressed the links between the club and the English international winger, as his future remains in limbo and is clouded in uncertainty.
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โMyself, the club, the community never wanted to lose Dom in the first place. If he wants to come home, everyone will have open arms,โ O'Brien said.
โI 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.
"A couple of weeks ago I wasn't thinking that we're in a position where we potentially could get him back.
โBut, you know, that's the Roosters' business, that's what they do and how they do it is entirely on them.โ
Although O'Brien confirmed that they would welcome him back with open arms, the coach denied that the club has directly interacted with the English international, as he is still contracted until the end of the 2027 NRL season.
โNo, not since he left actually,โ O'Brien added.
"Maybe at the trial game at Gosford, I said G'day, but no, I haven't had any correspondence. At the moment, as far as I know, he's still a contracted Roosters player."
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While he scored 20 tries in 22 matches for the Roosters last season, he has struggled to not only replicate this year but has been inconsistent on the defensive end of the field.
The reports surrounding his future come as he has been overlooked in favour ofย Billy Smith,ย Mark Nawaqanitawaseย andย Robert Toiaย to join veteranย Daniel Tupouย and skipperย James Tedescoย in the back-line.
Several youngsters, such asย Ethan King,ย Reece Foleyย andย Tyreece Tait, are also starting to make a name for themselves in the lower grades.
