An alleged eye gouge from Hudson Young mars Canberra’s 24-20 loss to the Warriors

Rookie Canberra forward Hudson Young has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary after being charged with dangerous contact to the eyes.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Hudson Young of the Raiders runs the ball during the round 24 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Canberra Raiders at Shark Park on September 01, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

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Rookie Canberra forward Hudson Young has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary after being charged with dangerous contact to the eyes.

Young became the subject of intense scrutiny over his face-raking action on Adam Pompey as Warriors centre scored a try during his side’s shock 24-20 win over the Raiders on Saturday.

Young has previously been banned for five weeks for a similar offence this year, and a potential long suspension threatens to rock the Raiders on the eve of the finals.

The match review panel on Sunday handed 21-year-old Young a charge of dangerous contact head/neck (eye contact).

Rabbitohs prop George Burgess served a nine-match ban for an eye-gouge after he was found guilty of attacking Robbie Farah’s eyes in Round 15.

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If that is any guide, and given Young’s previous ban, a suspension of 12 weeks or more seems likely.

“He’s a repeat offender,” Brett Finch said in Fox Sports commentary.

“Watch these hands, they come in for another crack. Yeah he’s gone. He’s got serious issues. He’s done it before - that is absolute garbage.

“That is rubbish. That’s not what our game is about - that is a disgraceful act ... look at the pressure on his eyes here.

“That is terrible. He (Pompey) should react. He should put one straight on his chin. This is a bloke who spent five weeks on the sideline.”

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he spoke to Young and was satisfied the 21-year-old had not eye-gouged Pompey.

Hudson Young appears to gouge Adam Pompey.

“I’ve only briefly seen it. I know he didn’t gouge the kid,” Stuart said.

“There was a hand on the face from what I’ve seen on the video and it’s something I’ve got to look at again and get a clearer version of it. “It reminds me of the (Cowboys forward) Josh Maguire incidents where he got fined for whatever they call it on the face.

“I went straight to him and asked him if it was a gouge and he said ‘no’ and he’s spoken to the other player.

“If it was an eye-gouge, and look I don’t condone any of this, (but) if it was an eye-gouge, the kid would reel out of that and he didn’t.

“I hope for the kid’s sake that if it is anything, it’s the same as what Josh Maguire copped. Twice, he got the fine.”

Adding an upset loss to Young’s indiscretion made it a grim afternoon for the Raiders, who were listless and lifeless for long periods of the match before a Blake Green try in the 77th minute delivered a win for the New Zealanders.

The Raiders will now travel down to Melbourne in the first week of the finals having lost two of their last three regular season matches.

Young was previously suspended for a gouge in June.

With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, John Bateman, Jordan Rapana and Sia Soliola all rested it was something of a bit part Canberra line-up but Stuart will still rue his teams inability to close out the match.

Canberra may have shown none of the steel which has marked their rise to the top four, but credit must be given to the Warriors, who had nothing to play for but pride.

The Kiwis overturned a 20-12 deficit in the final 10 minutes and their comeback included an incredible try to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck where the ball whipped through 13 sets of hands before the superstar fullback, who handled it three times in the one movement, dotted down to give the Warriors a chance at victory.

NZ WARRIORS 24 (L Burr B Green A Pompey R Tuivasa-Sheck tries I Luke 4 goals) bt CANBERRA 20 (J Hodgson S Kris M Oldfield J Papalii tries J Croker 2 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Adam Cassidy

Originally published as An alleged eye gouge from Hudson Young mars Canberra’s 24-20 loss to the Warriors