North Queensland coach Todd Payten has not yet spoken to Dean Young about the vacant St George Illawarra coaching job for which he is one of two front-runners.
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But like South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou with his own right-hand man Ben Hornby, Payten is more than willing to letting the highly-rated assistant go if the Dragons come knocking.
Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles had been the favourite to become head coach of the besieged Dragons until withdrawing from consideration on Wednesday and signing on to re-join Melbourne as Craig Bellamy's top lieutenant.
Dragons CEO Ryan Webb has said the club is keen to appoint Anthony Griffin's successor by next week, if possible, and that premiership-winning Dragons players Young and Hornby are now the two candidates atop the shortlist.
Webb believes the pair's Dragons DNA and solid coaching apprenticeships make them strong candidates for a maiden head-coaching job and both are off-contract at the season's end.
Young joined the Cowboys for the 2021 season after working through the Dragons' coaching ranks to become an assistant to former head coach Paul McGregor.
He was interim coach in late 2020 before Griffin's arrival and has also served as an assistant with Tonga and the Indigenous All Stars.
Payten said there was enough on his mind coaching the 16th-placed Cowboys without delving into the subject of the Dragons with Young.
"Whether he's in discussions or not, I'm yet to ask the question," Payten said.
"I've kind of given it a wide berth this week given all our distractions.
"However it plays out, he's got our full support.
"He's been really strong for our club, he's made a positive impact to our group, he's helped me. He's a terrific ally.
"I would expect 80 per cent of all assistant coaches to have an ambition to be a NRL head coach. He's got a love for the club and I understand the connection.
"I don't want to put words in his mouth but outside of our club that's the only place he knows."
Demetriou previously served as an assistant at the Dragons alongside both Young and Hornby but worded the pair up about the challenges that come with taking the leap from assistant to head coach.
"It's just prepping yourself for the loneliness, I suppose. It's a lot more lonely in the office on your own," he said.
"I've said that many times no, I wouldn't (stand in Hornby's way).
"He's a great coach Benny, as is John (Morris, Souths assistant coach). I'm pretty lucky to have those guys and they're ready to have a crack if an opportunity presents but who knows. I'll wait and see."
Australian Associated Press
