There was a pretty simple reason Ricky Stuart wanted Hudson Young to keep training with the Canberra Raiders through the NRL finals series, even though he was hurting having just copped an eight-match ban for eye gouging.
"Hudson had a valuable lesson to learn - he had to suffer the pain and see what he was missing out so he could understand how important rugby league was to him,'' Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
"Rugby league has given Hudson a lot.
"At the time it wasn't a case of 'poor Hudson'.
"I don't like being hard on young people. But Hudson needed some tough love at the time. Unfortunately that had to be my role.
"I was hurting with him privately, but I was also cranky with him, and there was no way I could cuddle him immediately.''
Hudson Young will return against Manly.Credit: AAP
Young will turn out for the Green Machine on Sunday afternoon against Manly for the first time since the round-25 clash against New Zealand last season when he landed in hot water for eye gouging young Warrior Adam Pompey.
The 22-year-old had missed five games earlier in the year for the same grubby tactic on Canterbury's Aiden Tolman.
Former Raider Brett Finch was in the Fox Sports commentary box and far from impressed when he saw the Pompey incident and called for Young to be whacked with a mammoth 20-match ban.
The footage of Hudson Young with his hand on Adam Pompey's face that led to his eight-match ban.Credit: AAP
"He's a repeat offender. Watch his hands, they come in for another crack. Yeah, he's gone. He's got serious issues. He's done it before and that's absolute garbage. That is rubbish,'' Finch said.
Young never admitted he had gouged Pompey. He told the judiciary he grabbed at anything to try and hold Pompey up in a tackle, but at no stage ''did I feel an eye, eye socket, nothing''. Pompey even took time out from the Warriors' Mad Monday celebrations to give evidence via video link in support of Young.
What Stuart said to Young during those first meetings is not fit for print.
Stuart, however, knew Young would do it tough mentally, especially with his teammates and the club and the whole nation's capital buzzing about the finals campaign.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart gave Hudson Young some 'tough love'.Credit: Getty
The Raiders quickly arranged for Young to receive all the support and any counselling he needed.
Young worked hard during the opposed sessions through September, and during Grand Final week even assumed the role of Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner during the main opposed session.
He knows playing good football will be the only way he changes people's perceptions of him.
There are such high hopes for Young that some at the club are convinced they have their right-edge back row replacement for 2021 should John Bateman land himself a bigger deal elsewhere.
Stuart knows Young will not need to change anything about his technique, nor will he come under any extra scrutiny from officials because of his dubious disciplinary record.
"The club has been impressed with the way he's handled this situation. He's learned the hard way,'' Stuart said.
"He knows he's cost himself the chance to play a lot of footy.
"He doesn't leave a stone unturned in regards to his preparation and training. And that's one of the biggest reasons I didn't hesitate putting him straight on the bench.
"Hudson will be a better person for this. I'm sure of it.''
Manly rolled Canberra on both occasions last season, but head to Campbelltown without enforcer Marty Taupau and strike centre Moses Suli.