There’s a feeling around the league that the Roosters’ call to allow star winger Dom Young to leave the club mid-contract is so they can fit Daly Cherry-Evans into the cap next season.
The Knights have emerged as the “clear early favourites” to land Young after the star winger was given permission by the Roosters to join a rival club.
Veteran journalist Dean Ritchie confirmed the Knights were very interested in linking back up with Young, who spent three seasons in Newcastle (2021-2023) before joining the Roosters.
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However, just 18 months into a four-year deal, the Roosters have reportedly lost patience with Young. Due to poor form, the winger was dropped to reserve grade last week.
Ritchie said he spoke with the Knights after the Young bombshell broke, with the club confirming their interest and desire to sign the winger immediately.
“I made a few calls in and around the Knights and it has been mooted that he may find a club for the rest of this year and then sign a two-year deal with Newcastle but the Knights are saying that that won’t be happening,” Ritchie said on NRL360.
“If he doesn’t come now, he won’t be coming at all. I think Newcastle want him in their side for Round 11 (next week).”
Young is currently on a deal worth $500,000 a season, but the Knights won’t be willing to pay anywhere near that to acquire the UK flyer.
Cherry-Evans’ move to the Roosters is reportedly all but confirmed, with the deal set to be for one year and will be worth at least $1 million according to Fox League’s Paul Crawley.
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“Newcastle said today privately that they aren’t going to just accept Young. They said it’s the Roosters’ issues. It’s not up to us to fix their problem,” Ritchie continued.
“There’s a sneaky suspicion in Newcastle that the Roosters are trying to get rid of Young to make way for Cherry Evans. But the Knights have said it’s not our job to make way for DCE.”
Crawley noted that the signing of Young wasn’t the only recruitment decision the club has ultimately got wrong in recent seasons.
While Young was a prolific try scorer last year, his form has plummeted in 2025.
“There’s been a few though at the Roosters in recent seasons who have gone there with a lot of other clubs chasing them that just haven’t worked out,” Crawley said.
“You think Brandon Smith, Matt Lodge, Dom Young. The reason why the Roosters wanted him was because he was killing it at Newcastle.”
“I think it’s a good move by the Chooks. I think it’s a right call,” NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta added.
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