Young embraces Ricky advice

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had three words to say to his back rower Hudson Young after a rough start to his Westpac NSW Blues Origin career in Adelaide’s Game One.

“He told me ‘Just be Hudson’,” the 25-year-old told nswrl.com.au

“He’s been around long enough to know what certain players do, so when he says ‘be Hudson’ he just wants me to play my own game.

“He doesn’t want me to try to be like anyone else, or do anything different to what I do every week for the Raiders.

“That’s what got me to the Origin level so I need to get back to that.

“I am really confident in my ability and I know what I can bring to the team. I’m just glad to get back there for Game Two.”

Young is an 80-minute player, who averages more than 100m and two tackle-busts in every NRL game he’s played in 2023.

But in Origin I he was on the field for 30 minutes, made 35m, had a handling error and gave away a penalty.

“I also spoke to Freddy (NSW coach Brad Fittler) and I know it wasn’t my best game,” Young said.

“But I’ve learnt to deal with the highs and lows in my career and I’m very thankful that he’s backing me again.

“I just want to go out there and prove everyone wrong.”

Young has some fond memories of Wednesday’s Game Two venue Suncorp Stadium – namely winning Magic Round in 2022 and 2023 beating Cronulla-Sutherland and Canterbury-Bankstown respectively.

He dearly would love to add an Origin victory in Brisbane to that list.

“It was obviously tough for me playing my first Origin and losing. You want to make it a winning feeling and it definitely wasn’t that,” he said.

“It’s something I want in Game Two.

“But it’s the ever-present part of footy – you have to ride the ups and downs.

“I went back to club land and tried to perform well, which the whole team did in the win against Wests Tigers but then went down to the Warriors.

“It’s definitely easier coming into Blues camp this time. Everything is not so new, now that I’ve experienced it before.

“I’ve got to know the boys better and have been able to make those connections stronger.

“It’s a good feeling to come back and get another shot at it in the Origin arena.”