The Dragons improved late in 2026, and Dean Young became permanent head coach after taking charge midseason.
He replaced Shane Flanagan, sacked two months into the season after a 0-7 start; the Dragons had conceded more than 60 points on Anzac Day.
On The Bye Round Podcast with James Graham, Young said the players needed a changed environment and new voices.
"Mick is a really good coach, I enjoyed my time alongside him under Shane, but I just felt we needed change and unfortunately he was part of that," Young said.
He made no external appointments, promoting academy player Tom Eisenhuth and assigning performance staffer John Davy to work on the edges.
Young said they returned to basics, strengthened connections, and improved week by week.
He said taking the job put his long-held goal of coaching the Dragons at risk.
But declining could also have cost him the opportunity if another coach succeeded, he said.