Knights winger Dom Young hopes to have his future sorted in the next two weeks as the speedster weighs up the biggest deal of his young career with a number of clubs chasing his signature.
Young showed off his freakish talents on Friday night when he sprinted 80 metres to chase down a Jackson Hastings kick that only one or two other players in the competition might have been able to do.
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Roosters coach Trent Robinson had the best seat in the house in Gosford as he sat in the stands waiting for the second match of the double-header on Friday, and it may have prompted a quick call to club officials to up their offer.
Young wants to sort everything out before Newcastle opens its season in New Zealand on March 3, with the Knights and Roosters in the box seat to sign him after the Bulldogs and Bunnies reportedly dropped out of the race.
“I’m just leaving it down to my management at the minute, ideally I’d like to get it sorted in the next few weeks. But in the meantime I’m fully focused on starting round one well and having a good year with the Knights,” he said.
“That was always the plan (to sign it now) so I could start fresh at the start of the season, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. (I want to sign) as soon as possible hopefully so I can crack on with the year.
“It’s a nice feeling to get recognised by some top clubs, especially coming from where I came from. I only really had a big year last year and obviously off the back of the World Cup too, but it’s pretty exciting.”
Young said he didn’t speak to Robinson on Friday night after the pair reportedly had dinner together the previous week, and the Englishman said he didn’t want to talk about the Roosters when his future was still up in the air.
“I don’t want to talk too much about it while I’m still signed with the Knights,” said Young, who wants to play somewhere where he’ll be happy and can enjoy his footy.
“I want to be respectful towards them and to the boys there but like I said hopefully I can get it sorted soon.
“It’s not too stressed at the minute, I’m just leaving it up to my management and hopefully I can get it sorted soon.”
The 21-year-old giant will lean on his family for their advice before he signs his next contract which has soared in value since he scored nine tries at the World Cup.
It capped a dream 12 months for Young who struggled in his first season in Newcastle but developed into the complete package in 2022 with his height and searing pace causing plenty of headaches for his opposition.
“I took a lot from that, just a lot of experienced boys in there just seeing how they get through their days and how professional they are, but also just playing with them in front of English crowds in the stadiums and those big games,” he said of the World Cup experience.
“It’s something I can take towards this season hopefully.”
