‘Direct and forceful’: Raiders star binned amid NRL’s crackdown on high shots

Hudson Young is the first player to be sin-binned following the NRL’s crackdown on high shots in the Raiders’ last-gasp victory.

Hudson Young is the first player to be sin-binned following the NRL’s crackdown on high shots with the Raiders star given his marching orders for a tackle on Cameron McInnes in Canberra’s gusty 24-20 win over Cronulla.

Play was initially stopped with 20 minutes left on the clock when the Raiders used their captain’s challenge to dispute a knock-on ruling.

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After referee Todd Smith blew his whistle, Sharks skipper McInnes ran up to him and it became clear something was brewing.

“Wait one second … it’s probably what you’re talking about,” Smith said to McInnes before calling Raiders captain Joe Tapine and Young out.

Hudson Young was sin binned for a high tackle.

Smith explained that there wasn’t going to be a captain’s challenge because he was going back to a high tackle in this set.

“It’s direct contact, no mitigation, direct and forceful. In the bin,” Smith said to Young.

Young shook his head as he ran off the field.

It comes after an email was sent out to all clubs ahead of this round warning coaches that high contact would not be tolerated.

Fox League commentator Warren Smith highlighted this — and the fact that players stayed on the field last week for similar tackles.

“Last Sunday night, just four days ago, players remained on the field,” he said.

“Jarome Luai made a very similar tackle on Edwards Kosi … the NRL promised us they would look at things and recalibrate and we’ve seen that just then.”

Expert analyst Cooper Cronk added: “Call it a recalibration, but that is contact to the chin, forceful enough.”

Seconds later Joe Tapine was penalised for a high tackle on McInnes.

While he was allowed to stay on the field, it did hand the Sharks a two-point lead with Nicho Hynes kicking a penalty goal.

The Raiders ended up stealing a four-point win, but reflecting on the result, NRL legend Nathan Hindmarsh said the Tapine tackle “was not a penalty”.

He believes the Young tackle “was a penalty” and added: “I’m not too keen on going back to find it and see it. It should’ve been called by the ref — not go back and look for it.”

Originally published as ‘Direct and forceful’: Raiders star binned amid NRL’s crackdown on high shots