Young return held back
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday March 30, 2011
DEAN Young's return has been pushed back another week after coach Wayne Bennett left the hooker out of his 18-man squad for Sunday's clash against an injury-ravaged Newcastle.Bennett has resisted the temptation to rush Young back from a knee injury, holding off on naming him until next week's blockbuster against the Bulldogs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.The Dragons will welcome back second-rower Beau Scott, who missed the Warriors victory through suspension, pushing Trent Merrin back to a six-man bench.David Gower will play his second game filling in for the injured Michael Weyman, named alongside Dan Hunt in the front row.So entrenched in the St George Illawarra culture, Gower took the Dragons' round two belting at the hands of Cronulla personally.He wasn't even part of the team that was battered and bruised by a revved-up Sharks outfit, but criticism aimed at the Dragons pack following the shock loss still dented the pride of the former Tiger."There were questions raised in the media about the lack of grunt in the team following that game against Cronulla," Gower said."We wanted to make sure those questions weren't raised again."Together with Hunt and a busy Merrin, Gower helped the reigning premiers silence the critics - at least for another week - in a dominant opening 20 minutes of football at Mt Smart Stadium.Gower, who hadn't played in the NRL since his debut for the Tigers in 2009, came to the club with high hopes of repaying Bennett for throwing him a NRL lifeline.However he didn't expect the opportunity to come as early as round three, nor did he expect to be filling the shoes of international prop Weyman in the starting line-up."It was a big step up from the Carlton League and the NSW Cup, where I have been playing," Gower said."Being named in the starting line-up was unexpected."But it gave me confidence knowing Wayne had the confidence to put me in the starting team and believing I could get the job done."The 2009 NSW Cup player of the year, who wasn't given a look-in by Tigers coach Tim Sheens, is delighted with his move to St George Illawarra.Having given up his day job as an electrician, Gower is enjoying life as a Dragon under the tutelage of Bennett."I like the fact Wayne cares about his whole squad, from the top internationals to the fringe players," Gower said."I haven't had that in the past."As far as my career is concerned, this is the best club by far ... it was the best move of my career."
© 2011 Illawarra Mercury
