Dean YOUNG [
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Tue April 10, 2012
Source: www.dragons.com.auSt George Illawarra Dragons representative Dean Young on Tuesday announced his decision to retire from rugby league at the end of this season.
Young, 28, a local Illawarra junior from the Dapto Canaries made the decision due to a degenerative knee injury, despite having one year left to run on his current contract.
"I would love to continue on forever but unfortunately my knee just won't afford me that opportunity," said Young.
"I have battled with it for six years now since I originally injured it and had complications with the surgery.
"I had three surgeries in an eight week period in 2006 and contracted golden staff infection whilst in hospital.
"In 2007, I had further complications with a stress fracture and as such my workload and other battles since then have meant that my training has been limited and has been gradually diminishing over time".
"I am now at the point where all I can really do each week is six sets of ball work and I am really grateful to the Dragons medical staff and my team-mates for the way that they deal with me.
Young admitted to considering retirement last year and had seriously discussed it with his wife Brooke, former teammate Shaun Timmins, who had battled knee injuries throughout his career as well as his family, Dragons Performance Director Andrew Gray and then Coach Wayne Bennett, but decided against it.
"I really battled at the start of last year but it was because I didn't really give it the rest it needed in the off-season because I was part of the Australian Squad for the Four Nations," said Young.
"It was a dream come true to represent Australia and mentally I was on a high, especially off the back of winning the Premiership but my knee wasn't up to it.
"I know that once you retire that is it and I just wasn't comfortable with it ending last year.
"In the back of my head I would have always wondered if I could still compete if I had a good rest and lead-up to the season.
"This year I had the opportunity. I had a good break, the staff have been wonderful and the addition of the Alter G treadmill that the Club purchased late last year has definitely helped and given me the chance to have one last season and know that I will have done absolutely everything possible.
"I will be able to retire with no regrets, giving my best for the Club this year."
Dragons CEO Peter Doust and Head Coach Steve Price joined Young for the formal announcement today, supporting his decision and sharing some insight into Dean and his decision.
"Not too many people truly understand what Dean has gone through over the past few years and I'm pretty sure that most other players would have been retired long ago," said Dragons Head Coach Steve Price.
"Dean is just about as tough as they come.
"His physical but more importantly his mental toughness is truly remarkable.
"Not many of his teammates even truly understand the pain Dean experiences and what he goes through each week just to make it on the field and to compete each week.
"It is truly inspirational".
Dragons CEO Peter Doust also praised Young on his professionalism and character.
"Dean Young has made an outstanding contribution to the Dragons," said Doust.
"His no fuss approach and positive attitude belies the truth and pain underneath and he deserves the highest possible accolades for his commitment to training and recovery day and night that enables him to compete in the NRL each week on minimal training".
"Dean is a local junior whose professionalism and steely determination have seen him play at every level in the game and everyone associated with the Club thanks him for his commitment and we will all enjoy the remainder of this year with him."
Young indicated that he wasn't exactly sure what life post this 2012 season would hold but hoped to remain associated with the game.
"I'm not exactly sure what I will do once I retire but Rugby League is in my blood and so are the Dragons so I hope to be able to remain involved somehow," said Young.
"Now is not the time for me to worry too much about that or to reflect upon my career, I will have plenty of time to do that at the end of the season.
"I'm just happy to have been able to make this decision and make it public and I can now just get on with focusing on the remainder of the season and going out on the highest note possible."
Young made his first-grade debut for the Club during the 2003 campaign against the Parramatta Eels in Round 2 and has made a total of 192 first-grade appearances to date.
Tue August 2, 2011
Source: www.dragons.com.auSt George Bank Dragons utility Dean Young will make his return from injury to face Wests Tigers in the Close the Gap Round at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday.
The Dapto Canaries junior, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since Round 19, is the only addition to the squad who played against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday and is looking forward to taking to the field once again.
"I'm looking forward to taking to the field again for the Club after having being ruled out in recent weeks through injury," said Young.
"We've had our heads down training this week and intend to put on a strong display against Wests Tigers who have been on a good roll of form as of late."
The Dragons hosted 50 Indigenous families from several local Indigenous organisations for their home game against the South Sydney Rabbitohs last Round as part of the "Close the Gap" campaign aimed at improving the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Additionally, several Dragons players will today be attending the Myimbarr Learning Centre in Wollongong to help local Indigenous students with their homework and other curricular activities.
NRL
Dragons v Wests Tigers
7.35pm Friday, August 5
Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
1 Darius Boyd
2 Brett Morris
3 Mark Gasnier
4 Matt Cooper
5 Jason Nightingale
6 Jamie Soward
7 Ben Hornby [c]
8 Dan Hunt
9 Nathan Fien
10 Michael Weyman
11 Beau Scott
12 Ben Creagh
13 Matt Prior
14 Jon Green
15 Trent Merrin
16 Adam Cuthbertson
17 Dean Young
18 Kyle Stanley
20 Mitch Rein
======================================================================================================
 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
10 games; [View] Round 1 [01 Mar 12] W 15-14 v Newcastle (A). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [10 Mar 12] L 4-30 v Canterbury (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [16 Mar 12] W 36-12 v Wests Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [24 Mar 12] W 17-6 v Manly (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [30 Mar 12] L 20-28 v Brisbane (A). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [07 Apr 12] L 0-12 v Cronulla (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [13 Apr 12] W 12-4 v Newcastle (H). [LK]
[View] Round 8 [25 Apr 12] W 28-24 v Roosters (H). [LK]
[View] Round 10 [14 May 12] L 12-13 v Penrith (A). [LK]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 12] L 18-19 v Souths (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2011 State of Origin
New South Wales Origin
1 games; [View] Origin [25 May 11] L 12-16 v QLD Origin (A). [DH]
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2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
18 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 11] W 20-18 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 11] W 25-6 v Canterbury (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [18 Apr 11] W 16-0 v Rabbitohs (A). [DH]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 11] W 24-10 v Roosters (A). [DH]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 11] W 30-0 v Eels (H). [DH]
[View] Round 9 [08 May 11] W 22-8 v Cowboys (H). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [13 May 11] W 15-10 v Canterbury (A). [DH]
[View] Round 13 [03 Jun 11] D 14-14 v Eels (A). [DH]
[View] Round 14 [10 Jun 11] L 14-28 v Titans (H). [DH]
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 11] W 24-6 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [03 Jul 11] L 10-14 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 11] L 14-16 v Wests Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [14 Aug 11] L 12-20 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 11] L 6-8 v Storm (A). [LK]
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 11] W 26-22 v Warriors (H). [LK]
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 11] W 32-12 v Panthers (H). [LK]
[View] Finals Week 1 [09 Sep 11] L 12-21 v Wests Tigers. [LK]
[View] Finals Week 2 [17 Sep 11] L 12-13 v Brisbane. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
22 games; 5 tries, 20 points.
[View] Round 1 [12 Mar 10] W 18-12 v Eels (A). [LK]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 10] W 26-6 v Bulldogs (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 3 [26 Mar 10] W 33-8 v Cowboys (H). [LK]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 10] L 4-17 v Storm (A). [LK]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 10] W 34-16 v Broncos (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 10] W 19-6 v Titans (A). [LK]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 10] W 28-6 v Roosters (H). [LK]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 10] W 38-0 v Sharks (H). [LK]
[View] Round 9 [08 May 10] L 6-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [LK]
[View] Round 10 [14 May 10] W 19-6 v Bulldogs (A). [LK]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 10] L 14-22 v Raiders (H). [LK]
[View] Round 12 [28 May 10] W 30-0 v Eels (H). [LK]
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 10] W 34-10 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [05 Jul 10] L 8-12 v Panthers (H). [LK]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 10] W 16-13 v Rabbitohs (A). [LK]
[View] Round 20 [23 Jul 10] L 10-11 v Titans (H). [LK]
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 10] W 32-10 v Sea Eagles (H). [DH]
[View] Round 24 [22 Aug 10] L 16-32 v Raiders (A). [DH]
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 10] W 26-18 v Knights (A). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week 1 [12 Sep 10] W 28-0 v Sea Eagles. [DH]
[View] Finals Week 3 [25 Sep 10] W 13-12 v Wests Tigers. [DH]
[View] Grand Final [03 Oct 10] W 32-8 v Roosters. [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
======================================================================================================
2010 Four Nations Test Series
Australia
1 games; [View] Round 3 [06 Nov 10] W 34-20 v New Zealand (A). [BE]
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2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
26 games; [View] Round 1 [13 Mar 09] L 16-17 v Storm (A). [DH]
[View] Round 2 [21 Mar 09] W 16-10 v Titans (H). [DH]
[View] Round 3 [29 Mar 09] W 10-6 v Sharks (H). [DH]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 09] W 25-12 v Broncos (A). [DH]
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 09] W 22-8 v Eels (A). [DH]
[View] Round 6 [18 Apr 09] L 18-24 v Knights (H). [DH]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 09] W 29-0 v Roosters (A). [DH]
[View] Round 8 [03 May 09] W 12-11 v Warriors (H). [DH]
[View] Round 9 [09 May 09] L 20-24 v Cowboys (A). [DH]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 09] W 20-18 v Bulldogs (H). [DH]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 09] W 26-4 v Sharks (A). [DH]
[View] Round 12 [29 May 09] W 38-10 v Panthers (H). [SR]
[View] Round 13 [08 Jun 09] L 24-28 v Titans (A). [DH]
[View] Round 14 [14 Jun 09] W 32-18 v Cowboys (H). [DH]
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 09] W 21-10 v Tigers (A). [DH]
[View] Round 17 [03 Jul 09] W 34-12 v Roosters (H). [DH]
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 09] W 48-18 v Sea Eagles (H). [LK]
[View] Round 20 [26 Jul 09] W 29-4 v Warriors (A). [DH]
[View] Round 21 [31 Jul 09] W 26-12 v Storm (H). [DH]
[View] Round 22 [07 Aug 09] W 25-6 v Panthers (A). [DH]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 09] L 12-24 v Raiders (A). [LK]
[View] Round 24 [21 Aug 09] L 2-12 v Broncos (H). [DH]
[View] Round 25 [29 Aug 09] L 6-41 v Rabbitohs (A). [DH]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 09] W 37-0 v Eels (H). [DH]
[View] Finals Week 1 [13 Sep 09] L 12-25 v Eels. [DH]
[View] Finals Week 2 [19 Sep 09] L 10-24 v Broncos. [DH]
======================================================================================================
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
23 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [16 Mar 08] L 16-24 v Tigers (A). [LK]
[View] Round 2 [24 Mar 08] W 30-12 v Gold Coast (H). [LK]
[View] Round 3 [29 Mar 08] L 14-21 v Raiders (A). [LK]
[View] Round 5 [12 Apr 08] L 16-20 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] L 18-30 v Bulldogs (A). [LK]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 08] W 26-6 v Roosters (H). [DH]
[View] Round 9 [11 May 08] L 18-19 v Eels (A). [DH]
[View] Round 10 [17 May 08] W 36-12 v Storm (H). [DH]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 08] W 20-18 v Sea Eagles (A). [DH]
[View] Round 12 [01 Jun 08] W 26-12 v Rabbitohs (A). [DH]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] W 28-10 v Broncos (H). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [20 Jun 08] W 13-12 v Panthers (H). [DH]
[View] Round 16 [28 Jun 08] W 26-22 v Gold Coast (A). [DH]
[View] Round 17 [05 Jul 08] W 24-16 v Knights (A). [DH]
[View] Round 18 [13 Jul 08] L 12-19 v Raiders (H). [DH]
[View] Round 19 [21 Jul 08] L 0-26 v Storm (A). [DH]
[View] Round 21 [02 Aug 08] L 12-13 v Sharks (A). [DH]
[View] Round 22 [08 Aug 08] L 10-18 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 08] W 24-20 v Broncos (A). [DH]
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 08] W 34-6 v Warriors (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 08] W 40-14 v Eels (H). [LK]
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 08] L 0-10 v Roosters (A). [LK]
[View] Finals Week 1 [13 Sep 08] L 6-38 v Sea Eagles (A). [LK]
======================================================================================================
2007 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
3 games; [View] Round 8 [04 May 07] W 28-16 v Panthers (H). [F8]
[View] Round 9 [13 May 07] L 8-27 v Tigers (A). [F8]
[View] Round 10 [18 May 07] W 28-10 v Titans (H). [F8]
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
21 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 1 [10 Mar 06] L 15-24 v Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 06] L 12-13 v Panthers (H). [F8]
[View] Round 3 [26 Mar 06] W 44-14 v Rabbitohs (A). [DH]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] W 26-12 v Broncos (H). [DH]
[View] Round 5 [08 Apr 06] L 6-54 v Knights (H). [DH]
[View] Round 6 [15 Apr 06] W 26-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [29 Apr 06] L 10-24 v Storm (A). [SR]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 06] L 12-30 v Sharks (A). [SR]
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] W 22-16 v Warriors (H). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [26 May 06] W 38-12 v Knights (A). [DH]
[View] Round 13 [02 Jun 06] W 8-1 v Eels (H). [SR]
[View] Round 14 [10 Jun 06] W 20-10 v Panthers (A). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [16 Jun 06] W 18-16 v Broncos (A). [DH]
[View] Round 16 [24 Jun 06] W 34-14 v Cowboys (H). [LK]
[View] Round 18 [09 Jul 06] W 38-28 v Rabbitohs (H). [SR]
[View] Round 20 [23 Jul 06] L 12-31 v Raiders (A). [DH]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 06] L 24-34 v Storm (H). [DH]
[View] Round 22 [04 Aug 06] L 6-28 v Eels (A). [DH]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 06] L 10-26 v Bulldogs (A). [DH]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 06] W 46-16 v Tigers (H). [DH]
[View] Round 25 [26 Aug 06] W 18-4 v Sharks (H). [DH] 4 Pts; 1t
======================================================================================================
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
26 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Mar 05] L 28-46 v Bulldogs (A). [SR]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 05] L 12-46 v Storm (H). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t (44th)
[View] Round 3 [26 Mar 05] L 8-18 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 05] L 22-42 v Raiders (A). [LK]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 05] W 32-6 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (44th)
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 05] L 24-34 v Broncos (H). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 05] W 26-24 v Roosters (A). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 05] W 40-32 v Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 05] W 42-10 v Souths (H). [SR]
[View] Round 10 [13 May 05] W 34-12 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [29 May 05] L 16-24 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] W 32-18 v Warriors (H). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 05] W 34-4 v Cowboys (H). [SR]
[View] Round 15 [19 Jun 05] W 28-10 v Souths (A). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] L 24-32 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [08 Jul 05] L 14-40 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 19 [17 Jul 05] W 36-10 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [24 Jul 05] W 20-10 v Sharks (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 05] W 44-6 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 05] W 36-16 v Cowboys (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (7th)
[View] Round 23 [14 Aug 05] W 24-4 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [21 Aug 05] W 25-22 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 05] W 36-28 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week One [10 Sep 05] W 28-22 v Sharks (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (53rd)
[View] Qualifying Finals [24 Sep 05] L 12-20 v Tigers. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
2 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] L 12-21 v Raiders (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 04] W 16-10 v Warriors (A). [SR]
======================================================================================================
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Young, Dean
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