Canberra Raiders forward Hudson Young has been ruled out of the team’s Round 17 clash against the Newcastle Knights, with the club opting to rest him due to a persistent groin issue.
The 26-year-old has been managing the injury through a physically demanding period that has included both NRL duties and State of Origin representation for New South Wales. Rather than risk aggravating the concern further, Canberra has chosen to take a precautionary approach.
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In a statement released with the club’s official team list, the Raiders confirmed Young’s absence and outlined the reasoning behind the decision:
“Hudson Young will not play against the Knights, with the decision made to rest him for this fixture. Young has been managing an ongoing groin issue, and it has been decided that it’s best to manage his workload during what has been a demanding period for him with both club football and State of Origin commitments.”
With Young sidelined, Simi Sasagi has been named to start in the back row, and 21-year-old Noah Martin has been included on the bench, poised for just his second appearance in the NRL.
The decision comes at a pivotal time for the Raiders, who are fighting to keep their finals hopes alive in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested run home.
Friday night’s match at McDonald Jones Stadium will also be a significant milestone for Corey Horsburgh, who is set to play his 100th NRL game for the club.
