Canberra coach Ricky Stuart admits Hudson Young deserves a grading for stupidity but he has criticised “unfair hysteria” in some commentary ahead of the young forward’s trip to the NRL judiciary.
Young was referred straight to the judiciary on a charge of dangerous contact (eyes) after an incident involving Warriors winger Adam Pompey in Saturday’s NRL match in Canberra.
Young copped a five-game ban earlier in the season over a similar incident and could face a lengthy suspension that would rub him out of Canberra’s finals campaign if found guilty.
The 21-year-old Young headlines a marathon night at the judiciary on Tuesday with Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo also fighting to play in the first week of finals.
“I’m just concerned about the kid’s welfare, the hysteria that has been raised through this is unfair,” said Stuart on Monday, adamant Young did not eye gouge Pompey.
“There has been some childish comments about it. I’m really disappointed in some of the comments that have been aimed at Hudson because it might sound funny to you but he’s got a mother out there who is really in desperate need for her son, she’s very upset.
“Hudson is very upset, we’ve got to think about the person here as well.
“He did not intentionally go in to gouge the young player from the Warriors and he didn’t gouge him, the young player said that.
“I’ll leave everything else to our lawyer but I’m more worried about the personal welfare of Hudson because at this moment him and his family are under a lot of stress and pressure.”
It is expected Canberra’s defence will point to North Queensland forward Josh Maguire who escaped with fines twice this season for delivering “facials” – a hand rubbed across an opponent’s face.
“Where (Young) had his hand was stupid and if there’s a grading for stupidity that’s what it is,” Stuart said.
“Was it a facial? Yeah probably a facial, but he had his hand caught on his face after he went in at the ball the second time.
“He didn’t find the ball then all of a sudden and this is Hudson’s words, he ripped it out of there, knowing he’d been in trouble before.
“Stupidity? Yes. Accident? I don’t know.”