England's Dom Young Reveals How Uncertainty Could Tip the Scales Against Australia

Table of Contents

• Impact of Injury
• NRL Competition
• Super League Expansion
• Personal Plans

DOM Young has swapped his sandals in Dubai for the Sandal area of Wakefield after his Ashes campaign ended in disappointment.

The England winger believes that the increased competition and unpredictability of playing in the NRL contributed to Australia's 3-0 whitewash.

Dom Young feels that the unpredictability of the NRL may explain the difference between England and Australia.Credit: SWPIX.COM

Young performed well in the first two Tests but suffered a broken foot toward the end of the match at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, which caused him to miss the loss at Headingley.

As a result, he has had to change his holiday plans; with his foot in a boot, he will remain at his family home in West Yorkshire instead of going away for a break.

However, he understands that the disparity between the top and bottom teams in club competition is significant.

“When you play there week in and week out, it’s at a high level, and those small moments can make a difference,” said Newcastle Knights star Young.

“We didn’t handle those moments well defensively. You can’t afford to switch off, and with the quality of players Australia has, you're facing that level of competition every week – that can play a part.”

“The NRL is pretty intense. Each week, regardless of who you play, you know you're in for a tough game.”

“It’s a noticeable step up in intensity, and that’s the stark difference. Heading into the NRL season, the composition of the top eight can vary significantly each year.”

“In England, you generally have an idea of who will be competitive. It’s beneficial for the league here to try and level the playing field.”

Young acknowledges that expanding the Super League to 14 teams by 2026 could help balance the competition and increase that intensity.

The 24-year-old believes that a larger league could reveal new talent.

He stated: “There’s a lot of potential out there. It’s about providing opportunities for players to shine.”

“Many people claim that some new teams lack talent, but I don’t believe that’s true.”

Young was one of England’s standout performers in the Ashes series,Credit: SWPIX.COM

“With all the young players coming through, it gives everyone a chance, and there are many players who could excel if they are given the right opportunities.”

Now that England’s Ashes campaign has concluded, Young is just plain old Dom from Wakefield.

However, his injury has necessitated a shift in plans, as he revealed: “I’ll probably have to focus on rehabilitation more than I would have liked.”

“I had a holiday planned, but fortunately, I wasn’t smart enough to book it.”

“I was going to travel to Dubai with Kai Pearce-Paul – it’s a nice stopover on the way to Australia – but when I return, it’s almost like living on a holiday. I still get plenty of sun anyway.”