It was the highlight of his short NRL coaching career, but giving Cody Ramsey his first-grade debut is not about charity for Dean Young.

The St George Illawarra interim coach is not handing out opportunities to blood players because they’re out of finals contention – he wants to win.

After working closely with winger Mikaele Ravalawa, Young says he has not seen enough improvement and decided to drop him for Saturday’s match against Canberra.

The touching moment when he told Ramsey he would make his NRL debut was a hit online, but Young said it’s happening because the 20-year-old has earned it.

Taking Ravalawa’s place on the wing, Ramsey will get his first chance to impress since stunning at the NRL Nines in February.

“The reason why Cody has got the opportunity is because Mika is dropped,” Young said on Friday.

“He’s not rested, he’s not injured.

“I’ve spoken to Mika about his game, he needs to compete harder.

“I’ve been in open conversations with him over the last three weeks and he hasn’t improved as much as I’d like so Cody has earned the right to take his spot.

“I’m not looking to give kids an opportunity because we can’t make the semis, I’m there to put a side out, to go out and win the game of footy.”

Ramsey has been quietly toiling away with the side since he was named in the NRL Nines team of the tournament for his try-scoring blitz in Perth.

The Orange CYMS junior is an option at fullback for the Dragons, but has been named on the wing for Saturday after impressing Young with his tenacious attitude to training.

“It was really special actually, it was probably the highlight of my three-week coaching career,” Young said of telling Ramsey he would make his debut.

“To see a kid that works so hard on his game and the story behind it … he’s played in our under 20s and he was living at Heathcote so he was getting up at four o’clock in the morning, driving to Liverpool, going to work all day and then making the trip own to Wollongong and training at the university.

“He’d be getting home at 8.30 or nine o’clock at night so he’s earned the right to put on the famous Red V and the players are rapt for him.

“I’m not expecting the world from him, I know he’s only young and I’m sure he’s going to do what he’s done on the training paddock which is go out and give his best.”