<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341766</docID> <postdate>2025-04-04 13:30:20</postdate> <headline>Young avoids ban after copping sin-bin for high shot</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341767" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hudson-Young-resized-e1743715753718.jpg" alt="" width="759" height="505" /></p> <caption>Hudson Young celebrates his try in the Raiders' win over Cronulla at Canberra's GIO Stadium. (David Hossack/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> and <strong>Scott Bailey </strong>in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The first victim of the NRL's high tackle crackdown has avoided suspension, with the match review committee deeming Hudson Young's shot not worthy of a ban.</strong></p> <p>Young was controversially sin-binned in Canberra's last-gasp win over Cronulla on Thursday night, days after an NRL memo to clubs warning of harsher punishments.</p> <p>Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said afterwards he did not understand the crackdown, while Young claimed there was no intent in the hit.</p> <p>And on Friday, he won the support of the match review committee.</p> <p>Young was handed a grade-one charge for the tackle and given an $1800 fine, with the committee judging it on the same level as shots from Seb Kris and Billy Burns.</p> <p>Traditionally sin-binned players receive grade-two charges from the NRL and a ban, while a send off often results in a grade-three charge and longer suspension.</p> <p>Young admitted afterwards that he was surprised when referee Todd Smith called him over for what seemed an innocuous challenge.</p> <p>"I didn't think anything of it when I made the tackle, I don't think McInnes did either," he said.</p> <p>"I think you can tell which ones are forceful and which ones aren't," Young said.</p> <p>"I had no intent in my tackle and Cameron's not the biggest guy, but I've obviously just got to lower my contacts."</p> <p>McInnes was allowed to remain on the field, spared having to undergo a head injury assessment.</p> <p>Young's high tackle was one of four penalised during the game but the only one that resulted in a sin-binning.</p> <p>Asked if he understood what constituted a sin bin under the new edict, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart had a one-word answer: "nup".</p> <p>Stuart also questioned why his team was again on the wrong end of the penalty and set-restart count, and claimed he was still confused over the NRL's obstruction rulings.</p> <p>But the Raiders coach found plenty of words of praise for Young, who scored two tries in the win and played a key role in Sebastian Kris's thrilling 79th-minute winner.</p> <p>"It's the best start to a season Hudson's had since I've coached him," Stuart gushed.</p> <p>"And his off-field manner, his leadership is very authentic. He loves rugby league, he loves the Raiders.</p> <p>"He's a guy who could one day take over from Taps (Joe Tapine) as captain if he's around that long. He's wonderful for Taps as a leader."</p> <p>Young, who has played his whole career with Canberra since debuting with them in 2019, welcomed the prospect of captaining the club one day.</p> <p>"It's obviously a goal of mine," he said.</p> <p>"I love the club so much and all the boys here and Canberra as a place.</p> <p>"But Joe's doing a tremendous job and I'm just happy to lead behind him."</p> </body>