Hudson Young will deny making dangerous contact with Adam Pompey’s eyes as the Canberra forward is set to headline a marathon Tuesday night at the NRL judiciary.
Young confirmed he would plead not guilty to the charge on Monday, as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart criticised the “hysteria” surrounding the case.
Canberra have hired gun lawyer Nick Ghabar for the hearing, where it’s expected they will point to Josh McGuire being given fines this year for facials to opponents.
Young’s case will be heard after Sydney Roosters forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves argues a careless high tackle charge, with Parramatta prop Kane Evans to follow.
In a massive night set to decide if the trio can play in the first week of the finals, it’s anticipated Evans’ verdict on his high tackle charge may not be handed down until close to 10pm.
But while the he is the least experienced of the three, Young’s will command the most attention.
“I’m just concerned about the kid’s welfare; the hysteria that has been raised through this is unfair,” Stuart said on Monday.
“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.
“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.”
Former Kangaroos forward Reni Maitua claimed on Sunday Young “would have left that field in a body bag” if he was playing just a decade ago in his day.
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 and into next season if found guilty.
But Raiders players and Stuart defended the 21-year-old on Monday, with his coach claiming his biggest offence was plain stupidity.
“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,” Stuart said.
“Where (Young) had his hand was stupid and, if there’s a grading for stupidity, that’s what it is.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the Roosters were confident Waerea-Hargreaves would beat his charge for a hit on Liam Knight to face South Sydney.
Evans will attempt to have his grade-two charge for hitting Manly’s Brad Parker high downgraded to a level-one to play Brisbane on Sunday.