South Sydney assistant coach Ben Hornby is one of the favourites to land the vacant head coaching role at the Dragons. And Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray and forward Tallis Duncan have both given the former Dragons premiership winner a glowing endorsement after suggesting Hornby is an NRL head coach in-waiting.
Fellow 2010 premiership-winning teammate Dean Young has taken charge at the Red V on an interim basis for the rest of the season after the departure of head coach Shane Flanagan on Monday. And while club legends Young and Hornby are viewed by many as the frontrunners for the top job long-term, the names of several other candidates have emerged for the Dragons role.
South Sydney players such as captain Cameron Murray (R) reckon assistant Ben Hornby would be an ideal candidate to replace former Dragons coach Shane Flanagan (L). Pic: Getty
But Souths stars Murray and Duncan can’t speak highly enough of Hornby, who has been an assistant at the club for the past six years and learnt under master coach Wayne Bennett. In terms of apprenticeships, they don’t come much better and Hornby also has experience as a caretaker coach after taking over when Jason Demetriou was sacked in 2024.
Hornby had a 6-11 record as interim coach during that season, which was respectable considering the Rabbitohs’ woeful start. He even had the Bunnies on a five-game winning streak at one point, and club captain Murray says Hornby has proven that he has what it takes to succeed as an NRL head coach.
“He had a little stint as (interim) head coach here a couple years ago and I couldn’t fault him,” the Souths captain said. “It was like he’s been doing it for 20 years.
“He’s a pretty incredible guy and any club would be lucky to have him as a head coach. It’s probably what he’s learned best from Wayne, the simple fundamentals of what create good footy teams and just being consistent with that.”
Hornby was an intelligent footy player and is regarded as a great communicator. And Rabbitohs back-rower Duncan says his ability to simplify things and convey clear messages to the players is a huge strength. “He was obviously such a smart footballer when he played, but I feel like sometimes that wouldn’t translate to explaining it down to probably dumb forwards,” Duncan said. But he’s got that ability so he can break down the game in a way to make everyone understand it.”
Souths captain Cameron Murray (R) reckons assistant Ben Hornby (L) would make an excellent head coach after emerging as a frontrunner for the Dragons job. Pic: Getty
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)Dean Young makes big change at Dragons for Anzac clash
For now though, Young has the opportunity to stamp his own claims on the Dragons head coaching job. And he’s wasted little time making changes after dumping Kyle Flanagan to the bench and promoting young gun Kade Reed to the starting side for the Anzac Day clash against the Roosters – in what is set to be the 20-year-old’s NRL debut.
Ryan Couchman comes straight into the starting side after serving a four-game ban to replace the suspended Jaydn Su’A in the backrow. But star centre Valentine Holmes has been spared the axe after being destroyed by Latrell Mitchell and the Rabbitohs last week to continue his underwhelming start to the season.
Young previously served as an assistant at the Dragons from 2015-2020, which also included a stint as interim coach in that final season. He also worked as an assistant at the Cowboys in 2021 before returning to the Dragons in 2024. And Young worked under Blues Origin coach Laurie Daley in 2025 but has decided to relinquish the role this year to give the Dragons his sole focus.
with AAP