As Young grows both as a player and a leader, he is focused on leading his team to success in what is shaping up to be an exciting season.
Sydney Roosters winger Dom Young is preparing to embrace a new leadership
role as he heads into the 2025 NRL season. After a standout debut season with
the Roosters, the 23-year-old English star has quickly established himself as
one of the NRL’s most dangerous wingers. Now, with a much-changed
backline at the club, Young is ready to take on more responsibility and guide
the next generation of players.
Young’s journey to the NRL has been rapid and impressive. Having made the
move from Huddersfield Giants with minimal Super League experience, he
wasted no time in making his mark in the Australian competition. After
joining Newcastle Knights in 2021, Young scored four tries in just six
appearances that year. His try-scoring record only improved from there, with a
remarkable strike rate of a try per game in 2023. This earned him a move to
the Sydney Roosters, where his impact was immediate, finishing his debut
campaign with 20 tries in 22 matches.
Entering his second season with the Roosters, Young now finds himself in a
backline that has undergone significant changes. The departures of key figures
such as Joey Manu, who remains at the club but has taken on a new role, and
Josef Sua’ali’i, who made the switch to rugby union, have left the team
needing new leaders to step up. Additionally, veteran Michael Jennings has
retired, further reducing the club’s experienced backs.
As one of the senior players in the Roosters’ revamped backline, Young has
embraced the challenge of stepping into a leadership role. When asked by The
Daily Telegraph if he felt ready to take on more responsibility, Young’s
response was a confident, “Why not?” Despite his youth, he acknowledges that
the team now looks to him for guidance, especially with his extensive NRL
experience in comparison to some of the younger players.
Young’s leadership style, however, isn’t about vocal dominance or
commanding presence. “I am probably more of a leader with my actions more
than my words,” he explained. “That’s the kind of style I have.” This approach
reflects his preference to lead by example, focusing on his performance and
work ethic to inspire his teammates. “I’ve had a good few years here now, I
know how the game works. I’m pretty comfortable on the week-to-week side of
it,” he said. His aim is to help the younger players adjust to the pressures of
the NRL and guide them through the nuances of professional rugby league.
However, Young is not without his own challenges as he prepares for the 2025
season. Due to his involvement with England in the Test series against Samoa,
he began his pre-season training later than the rest of the squad. This has left
him with a bit of catching up to do when he returns. “Them boys are probably
all going to be ahead of me when I get in so I have to keep up with them when I
get back,” Young admitted, acknowledging that missing the second Test
against Samoa due to injury made it even harder to get back into his routine.
Despite the late start to his preparations, Young remains focused on
maintaining his place in the squad. “It always brings out the best in you, it
keeps you honest,” he said, emphasizing that the competition for spots within
the team is healthy and motivating. “You have to train hard because you want
to keep your spot, because you know the players underneath you are chomping
at the bit to get that,” he added.
With his combination of on-field talent and growing leadership qualities, Dom
Young is set to play a key role in the Roosters’ 2025 campaign. As he continues
to develop both as a player and a leader, Young is determined to help guide his
team to success in what promises to be an exciting season ahead.
