Raiders enforcer Hudson Young has declared he won’t change his baiting tactics, explaining “it’s just the way I play the game” in the wake of his controversial Reece Walsh moment.
Young and Walsh were both sent to the sin bin in Sunday’s enthralling finals clash, but it was the Broncos fullback who delivered a headbutt to his opponent which earned him a $3000 fine.
Despite Walsh being handed a grade one striking charge, both players earned the same on-field penalty — with the Raiders remaining stunned their back rower spent time sidelined.
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Speaking to the SMH, Young explained that he was in fact silent before Walsh drove his head into his face.
“I like getting into players, and players give it back as well. Obviously, I wasn’t expecting to be headbutted,” he said.
“But I guess, sometimes, when you do get in people’s faces, sometimes, you’re going to pay the price, and I got headbutted. And so what?
“I didn’t say anything to him. I was just sort of laughing that they made a mistake.
“We celebrate those little moments down here, that’s our culture, and that’s how we play the game. We celebrate moments, and that’s all I was doing.”
Reece Walsh headbutts Hudson Young at GIO Stadium, Picture: Fox LeagueSource: Supplied
Despite many holding the belief Young should have remained on the field, the NSW representative explained that decision didn’t decide the result.
“Obviously, I’ve got my thoughts around it and everyone’s got their thoughts as well,” he said.
“But the refs made their decision, the bunker made their decision, and we need to respect that.
“I don’t think it had any influence on the game. We went up to 28 to 12 when I was off the field, so yeah, there’s no excuse as to why we lost.
“We need to do better as players, take accountability for that, and look forward.”
Meanwhile, speaking on NRL360 veteran reporter Andrew Webster was convinced Walsh should have been handed a suspension, not simply a fine.
Alleged exchange between Radley & Smith | 02:53
“I think he definitely should have got a week. It’s a headbutt,” Webster said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
“Ridiculous, he should have got a week. Don’t you think that’s insane that a headbutt, what, a headbutt is just a fine? Come on.
“They’re rubbing blokes out for multiple weeks for accidentally falling on the back of ankles and calling them a hip drop.
“Walsh headbutts someone, sticks his finger up at the crowd, and good as gold, he’s right to play.
“If that was Nelson Asofa-Solomona, or Jared Waerea-Hargreaves or Hudson Young, you reckon it would have been a grade one or a grade two? It would have been a grade two headbutt.”