After watching former Roosters teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii make a stunning Test rugby debut at Twickenham, Dominic Young is open to doing likewise.
Young has been touted as England rugby’s answer to Suaalii; a dynamic athlete whose speed, try-scoring prowess and ability to win the ball in the air make him the ideal target.
England coach Steve Borthwick is said to be an admirer of Young, while his manager, Michael Cincotta, revealed the prospect of becoming a dual international holds appeal to the two-metre winger.
Speaking for the first time about a potential switch to the 15-man game, Young said the move is an attractive proposition.
“Yeah, it’s something that I’ve always been open to,” Young said before boarding a flight from England to Australia.
“It’s an opportunity that has presented itself before, and it’s definitely something I’ve considered.
Skills like these make Dom Young attractive to rugby scouts.Credit: NRL
“Obviously I’ve got a few more years here at the Roosters before I need to think about something like that.”
No club has experienced more movement between the codes, in both directions, than the Roosters. Suaalii and Joseph Manu left Bondi Junction in recent months for the opportunity to play for the Wallabies and in Japan respectively, while Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase transitioned the other way.
Young is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2027 and both he and his agent stressed he was committed to fulfilling it before exploring a potential rugby switch.
“There’s been a lot of movement and the [Roosters] team will look a lot different this year,” Young said.
‘It’s an opportunity that has presented itself before … it’s something I’ve considered.’
Dominic Young on advances from rugby
“A lot of the boys, even those moving on, found it really tough in terms of how much they value the club and how special it is.
“There’s definitely no rush for me to leave the Roosters, no rush for me to do anything. I haven’t had any conversations [with rugby], I’m pretty happy where I am now.”
Cincotta added: “Dom is happy at the Roosters and is ready for an even bigger year next season.”
Young has already shown he is prepared to embrace new challenges, as evidenced by his decision to leave the English Super League, while still an unproven teenager, to test himself in the NRL.
Roosters star Dominic Young.Credit: Janie Barrett, SMH
Before accepting an offer to join the Newcastle Knights, the England international said he gave rugby union serious consideration.
“Definitely, I sat down with my family during that decision-making process, when I was either coming over to the NRL or trying my hand at union,” he said.
“It’s something I considered very seriously, but I ended up sticking with league. It’s what I’ve been playing all my life, so at the time I thought I’d stick with that.
“I’ve got a lot of goals I still haven’t achieved in rugby league yet and my mind is pretty focused on what I want to do in rugby league …
“I haven’t spent a lot of time watching [rugby], to be honest. I haven’t played too much of it either, so it would be a bit of an adjustment period for me if I was to go to union.
“Playing on the wing would be pretty transferable, I don’t think I would be too bad at it.
“I haven’t put too much thought into it, and I’m not looking into it too seriously at the minute. I’ve still got a few more years at the Roosters.”
Young said he had mixed emotions watching former teammate Suaalii star on debut against England.
“I was happy for him, probably not happy for England,” he said.
“I was in England for the game. He showed what he is all about, I’m glad he had a game like that because he showed the talent he has. I’m happy for him, and hopefully, he doesn’t do that again against England.”
Nawaqanitawase said he was unsurprised that Suaalii made an immediate impact in Test rugby and predicted there would be more movement between the codes.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Nawaqanitawase said. “The way athletes are improving now, the boys can do a lot of things.
“Clubs like the Roosters can see the abilities that players have at union and union can see the abilities of the leaguies. I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”
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