Legend Martin Offiah believes Dom Young will be ‘instant celebrity’ if he helps England win World Cup
DOMINIC Young can take rugby league to a new level and become an ‘instant celebrity’ if he wins the World Cup for England.
And one of the greatest, Martin Offiah, would love to see him do it against Australia’s fearsome flyer, Josh Addo-Carr.
Former England boss Steve McNamara said he had not seen the likes of the winger’s sensational 95-metre effort in the win over France since the days of Chariots.
Now the standard bearer believes the 6ft 6ins 21-year-old ‘freak of a man’ – who plays at NRL side Newcastle Knights after leaving Huddersfield – can become a superstar away from the pitch if he propels England all the way.
He said: “Dom really does have an opportunity to not only become a national superstar but take the sport of rugby league to heights it would never have been at before.
“England have absolutely found a star, you wouldn’t expect to see someone that big be so quick and athletic.
“Imagine if Dom goes the full length in the World Cup final past Addo-Carr, scores the try that wins England the trophy. He’s going to be an instant celebrity.
“That would surpass anything any rugby player has ever achieved – be it myself, Shaun Edwards, Andy Farrell or Ellery Hanley.
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“You talk about players who go into the Hall of Fame, this opportunity is that big.
“Now if he’s not on a long-term deal at Newcastle, he’ll be offered one as soon as he gets off the plane. Every club in league and rugby union will be looking at him now.
“This World Cup has propelled Dom on to the world stage.
“You’ve seen Dallin Watene-Zalezniak score four for the Kiwis and Addo-Carr for the Aussies but I’m really looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
“And it’s going to be tough. It’s not just one-way traffic, defensively he has to be sound as Australia would throw a lot at us.”
Young may sit out Saturday’s clash with Greece as Ryan Hall scored a double in Saturday’s 42-18 success and Tommy Makinson bagged 24 points in the 60-6 thrashing of Samoa.
Boss Shaun Wane wants to give all 24 of his squad a match before the quarter finals, meaning Kai Pearce-Paul and Joe Batchelor will come in.
Kallum Watkins is out after being knocked out in the 42-18 win over the French as England look to end a 50-year World Cup drought on home soil.
But Offiah is in no doubt ahead of the Sheffield showdown, Young and Makinson are his first choice.
He added: “Dom and Tommy have moved England’s greatest ever try scorer in Ryan to third place.
“It depends what Shaun wants to do, although his selections will be a lot clearer now,
“Ryan deserves a runout against Greece but the energy of Tommy and Dom is what we’re going to require if we’re going to beat the Aussies, New Zealanders and Tongans in the semis and final.
“Even though the performance wasn’t as good as it was against Samoa, it was still a pretty decent one by England.
“But they really need to put Greece to the sword. After what we put on Samoa, anything less than a ton wouldn’t be that great.”