BY DAN

Canberra Raiders backrower Hudson Young has deservedly been named for the NSW Blues team for game one of State of Origin. It’s a win for him and vindication for one of the best at the game in his position. But it also exposes a injury-driven depth issue in a critical position in an important match next weekend.

It’s good that Young has made the squad. Despite the protestations of some, Young has been routinely been one of Canberra’s best this season, and it’s not the first year. He’s averaging a career high in metres and on track for the same in line breaks, tries, and new stat I’m going to make up called ‘number of times he saved the Raiders’ defensive line by covering a mistake either inside or out of him’ (ball park figure 17 for the season).

It’s also nice that he gets a chance at redemption after not making it through the series last year after Freddy did his thing. Young was not used well, either by the coach or Jarome Luai, and paid the price at the selection table. At least now he’s got another shot (and another 30k) to prove he belongs.

Young has been critical for Canberra this season, one of the best in the competition and he’s still improving. This year he’s added a far more effective line-running outside the emerging talent of Ethan Strange. Two tries against the Dogs a few weeks back were a good example of the change he was capable of. Previously he’d been a player that got so used to Jack shuffling ball-playing responsibility to him well before the line that he’d almost abandoned running a hard line. It’s not so much that it’s back, rather it’s the first time he’s got to prove he had the skill (although he did spend the first 20 minutes of his first origin outing trying to prove to Luai he could run that line; now at least he’s got in on tape in first grade).

It does mean he’ll miss the Dolphins game while he’s in camp, and potentially other games if he plays game two, which would be the Tigers (the Raiders have the bye before game three – I think? Draws are hard man). In years past when it’s been Jack or Papa that have played origin it’s been equally difficult, but at this juncture Hudson’s absence presents a big problem for the club as they do not have a heap of backrow depth to cover his absence.

One would presume that Simi Sasagi would be given a chance to prove himself improved after his first couple of outings in the top-line. His efforts weren’t poor, and twice he didn’t get to play his new position. But he did find himself struggling to be the defender that the other backrowers have been in the position. That’s because he’s undergoing a transition from back to backrow started in the offseason. But it’s also because the Raiders defence puts so much stress on the edges to atone for the sins of the middle. Even the best second-rowers are made to look mortal in the Canberra system. It’s a lot to ask of someone who’s been in the position for half a season.

Ata Mariota is the other option. Similar to Sasagi it’s a lot to expect of someone who doesn’t even play the position full-time. The likely outcome here is Sasagi with Mariota in the chamber. Here’s hoping we only have to use one of them; at least it will mean they did a good job. The other options are more gaffer tape and bulldog clips than actual solutions. Stick might do something funky and get Tapine or Smithies in there, or maybe Seb Kris. None of those options appeal, for a host of reasons that start with weakening strengths to strengthen weaknesses and end with bruh Seb didn’t play well at centre last week why promote him to a harder task?

There is a world in which Hudson doesn’t play. He’s named in the squad, 17th on the list so we’re presuming he’s in. He’d be the second backrower on the bench, which I think is a necessity in Origin. He offers coverage of the middle and the centres in a pinch, which in a world where you can lose a player to an HIA is increasingly important. But the Blues could double down on Cam McInnes as a big minute middle and bring Burton into the squad for a bit of backline options. That would be the worst of all worlds. Hudson misses out for both Canberra and Origin. What crime deserves this?

All in all it does speak to a roster based challenge for the club. Hosking’s absence was felt before this game but it hangs over Young’s absence like a stale fart. Similarly Coreys Horsburgh and Harawira-Naera would have been options in the past but the fate is a cruel mistress, pain is inevitable and tears are the only way out. In this light the pursuit of Super League emerging star Matty Nicholson makes a lot of sense. Even if he’s still to develop, even if the transferability of his skills are unclear, Canberra need more than just two good backrowers.

So congratulations to Hudson. We here at the Sportress hope you show the New South Wales faithful just why we rate you so highly in these pages. We will miss you next weekend, nearly as much as the Raiders.

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