Hudson Young gets eight-game ban, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves free to face Rabbitohs

Canberra’s Hudson Young has been suspended for eight games after being found guilty of dangerous contact at the NRL judiciary, while Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is free to take on South Sydney.

A big night at the NRL judiciary.

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Update: Canberra’s Hudson Young has been banned for eight matches by the NRL judiciary after being found guilty of dangerous contact with a player’s eyes. In a dramatic two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday night at NRL headquarters, the judiciary dismissed evidence from Warriors victim Adam Pompey who spoke in defence of the Raiders’ forward.

In the earlier hearing, Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves beat a controversial high tackle charge and is now ready to monster South Sydney in a massive qualifying final this Friday night.

Parramatta’s Kane Evans appeared in the final hearing of the night and failed in his bid to have a Grade Two careless high tackle charge downgraded, meaning he will miss one match - the Eels’ elimination final against the Broncos on Sunday.

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Hudson Young has been in the headlines all week. Photo: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Deliberating until around 10pm, the judiciary panel rejected Young’s claims that he had not made any contact with Pompey’s eyes as the centre was diving over on Saturday for a try.

The visibly upset Raiders’ youngster was forced to sit through a further hearing to determine his ban, with the NRL pushing for up to 12 games.

Earlier, Waerea-Hargreaves was found not guilty at an NRL judiciary hearing to a grade one careless high tackle charge which left Souths forward Liam Knight bloodied and concussed last Thursday night.

The verdict — which took 15 minutes to reach — was an enormous boost for the Roosters ahead of the club’s clash with 111-year rivals Souths at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“It was a rugby league accident,” said Waerea-Hargreaves legal counsel, Peter McLeod.

The hit pushed Knight into a collision with Roosters forward Lindsay Collins, the impact splitting the Rabbitohs forward’s head open.

After the hearing, Waerea-Hargreaves said: “I’m super relieved. We felt we had a really good case. I’m looking forward to preparing as much as I can and getting onto Friday against the Bunnies.”

Waerea-Hargreaves stood and demonstrated what he called a “catching tackle” — where a player cradles an opponent in defence — in front of judiciary panel members Mal Cochrane, Tony Puletua and Dallas Johnson.

“Player Knight stepped and spun and the space inside me had become vulnerable. I was thinking he could possibly make a line break. I was attempting to make a catching tackle,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“I wasn’t intending (to make) a swinging arm, my hands were completely open. You can clearly see I softened my arm. I understand I have a duty of care and I believe I upheld that. Unfortunately Lindsay (Collins) and player Knight had a head clash.”

Waerea-Hargreaves claimed he was struck in the chin by Knight’s right arm, a movement which “opened me up and he landed on my right bicep.”

Waerea-Hargreaves walked out to face South Sydney. Photo: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

The Kiwi prop claimed he “flinched”.

“After (Roosters player) Boyd Cordner missed the tackle, it was my role to fill that space,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

Asked by McLeod, whether contact was avoidable, Waerea-Hargreaves replied: “Not at all.”

Pressed by McLeod on whether he was careless, Waerea-Hargeaves answered: “Not at all. I was hoping player Knight was going to fall into my chest, this catching tackle. I did everything I could to help the situation.”

Waerea-Hargreaves was facing a one-match suspension by pleading guilty so had nothing to lose by appearing. It was his third charge for the season.

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NRL counsel Peter McGrath said: “Contact was made of some force and the aftermath was the cut to player Knight. He (Waerea-Hargreaves) didn’t show a duty of care.”

McLeod responded by saying: “We accept some contact was made of a low impact but we reject the proposition that player Waerea-Hargreaves was careless. He exercised an appropriate level of care. What reasonable alternative did he have in the circumstances?”

Parramatta’s Kane Evans will miss Sunday’s elimination final against the Broncos after he failed in his bid to have his careless high tackle charge against Manly’s Brad Parker on Friday night downgraded.

Originally published as Hudson Young gets eight-game ban, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves free to face Rabbitohs