The St George Illawarra Dragons have swiftly appointed Dean Young as head coach after enduring a 12-hour vacancy following Shane Flanagan's departure.
This change comes amid a challenging period for the Dragons, who have suffered an 11-game losing streak that has placed them at the bottom of the NRL standings.
Young, a former premiership player and assistant coach, has been named interim head coach for "at least" the remainder of the current season.
According to chief executive Tim Watsford, "Dean understands this club better than most."
He added, "He has a deep connection to the Dragons and the respect of the players and staff."
With the Anzac Day clash against the Sydney Roosters looming, Young faces the crucial task of selecting a team for this key matchup.
At 42, Young has limited time to revitalize the season for the winless Dragons.
Currently, the team is two wins behind the 16th-placed Gold Coast Titans and struggling to stave off their first last-place finish since the 1999 merger with the Steelers.
Historically, the Dragons have never endured more than eight consecutive losses as a joint venture prior to this ongoing 11-game streak.