Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has voiced frustration over Newcastle’s management of the Dom Young transfer situation. Recent reports indicated that Young was free to leave the Roosters after spending several weeks in the NSW Cup, but Robinson clarified that it was the Knights who originally initiated contact regarding a transfer before allowing negotiations to fall apart.
Robinson expressed annoyance, emphasising that it was misleading to imply the Roosters were trying to offload Young. He noted that after discussions with the Knights and Young’s management, they agreed to release the player under the condition that Newcastle would assume his contract costs. However, this agreement was apparently retracted later, causing confusion and disruption for Young and the Roosters.
“We were led to believe they had the funds to take him now,” Robinson explained. “They requested that we pay for his contract, which we agreed to, only for them to change their stance at the last moment. This has put Young in a troubling position and disrupted our team dynamics.”
Robinson stated that there were no prior conversations about releasing Young from the Roosters and emphasised that they only became involved after Newcastle made their intentions known. He was clear that the move was not instigated by the Roosters, pointing out that Young was unaware of the talks until they unfolded.
In conclusion, Robinson affirmed his commitment to Young, indicating that the player was not at fault in this situation. He expressed his desire to move forward and put the week’s frustrations behind them, asserting that the manner in which the transfer was handled was unprofessional.
This incident has created unnecessary challenges for both the player and the team, showcasing the importance of clear communication in sports negotiations.