NSW forward Dean Young has all but admitted the chronic knee injury that will restrict his State of Origin preparation is likely to shorten his career.

Young will train just twice with the Blues, on Friday and Tuesday, a situation coach Ricky Stuart was fully aware of when he made the St George Illawarra utility part of his plans.

Young is also on a restricted program at the Dragons, whose physiotherapist Andrew Gary is working with the Blues, and compares his career prospects with a former teammate who also suffered knee problems, Shaun Timmins.

"He's obviously been through a very similar situation," Young told AAP.

"His knees are a little bit different to mine but it happened to him at an early age, I think he was 23 and finished at 30 so that's seven years of putting up with it.

"I was 22 when I did mine and I'm 27 now so I've had five years (of it)."

Asked if the injury will shorten the Origin debutant's career, Young said: "At the moment we're managing it and it's going along fine.

"I'm only 27, hopefully I've got a couple of years left in me, another couple of years living the dream and I hope to get my reward soon."

A premiership, Test debut and now Origin call-up have fulfilled most of the dream for the heart and soul of the Dragons, who admits he has played down the extent of his injury.

"It's been like that since I did it, since 2006," he said.

"I probably haven't really spoken about it or (I've) said it's better than what it actually is.

"I'm getting the job done with what I'm doing.

"I'm training Friday and Tuesday and Sticky's (Stuart's) happy with that."

Young said Timmins, who attended a dinner with the current team and other former Blues on Tuesday night, had helped him through the tough situation.

"He's one special bloke, I can tell you that much," Young said of the 2004 field-goal booting Blues hero.

"I've worked closely with him and I learned a lot from him too because I was pretty young and looked up to him and idolised him a bit.

"I watched how he prepared and he was very professional."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP