Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has unleashed an extraordinary spray at NSW Blues selectors over their “disgraceful” treatment of Hudson Young.
Young played the opening two matches of last year’s series, before being dropped for game three.
He earned a recall into Michael Maguire‘s squad for this year’s series-opener, but, along with Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes, has again been left on the cutting room floor for game two in Melbourne.
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James Tedesco, who was brought in only on the Sunday before game one to replace the injured Dylan Edwards, and the suspended Joseph Suaalii are Maguire’s other two changes.
“I personally think the way he’s been treated in Origin over the last two series has been disgraceful,” Stuart said.
“They’re looking for loyalty and passion for the jumper, but you’ve got to give a little bit too.”
What makes Stuart’s spray even more extraordinary is he had Maguire working under him as an assistant at the Raiders last year.
Young played 30 minutes on his Origin debut as starting second-rower in last year’s series-opener, and then an hour in game two.
Coming off the bench in Sydney earlier this month, he played only 23 minutes.
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“The amount of game time he’s played in both series and then finds himself out – it’s either a wrong selection or they haven’t done the right thing by the kid,” Stuart said.
“He’s handled it a lot better than I would, I can assure you that.
“I was disappointed for Hudson. He won’t say that but you got to show a little bit of loyalty and passion if you want to get it (in return).”
Young was far from his best against the Cowboys last weekend. It would’ve been fresh in Maguire’s mind given he named the team only 48 hours later.
But Stuart suggested one poor showing at club level should not have been the catalyst for his axing from Origin.
“That (passion) is never to be questioned,” Stuart said.
“You see his commitment and the standards, his drive each week. His competitiveness sometimes gets him a bad name for how hard he fights for every little scrap that he’s in.
“But I love having him here and we’re the fortunate ones to have him this weekend.”
Young will get his chance to show what the Blues will be missing when the Raiders take on the Tigers in Campbelltown on Sunday afternoon.