Hudson Young isn’t a fan of the proposed NRL rule change which could see teams who concede a try have the option to kick off or receive the following set.
The Canberra back rower and Australian rep feels the decision could kill off the thrilling moments of rugby league including comebacks from a losing team, allowing the side ahead to break off momentum by calling for the ball.
“Me personally … not really (like the change). It probably takes away that exciting part if a team is coming back at the end, then you can just turn to receive the ball and change momentum that way,” Young said.
It was earlier reported that on Wednesday’s NRL club CEOs conference, NRL chief Andrew Abdo advised bosses the rule changes were still under consultation.
“V’landys has obviously done a great job with the NRL since he’s took over and I’m sure whatever decision he makes, people need to back it and just get on with it.”
Young and the Raiders would have ironically benefited from such a rule in their finals match against the Broncos last season, where the Canberra side gave up a 16 point lead and eventually the match.
After scoring their first try to narrow the scoreline, the Broncos followed up with a forced dropout and try, before a Reece Walsh 40/20 helped to put Jamal Shibasaki over the line the very next set – all of which might have been avoided if they elected to receive from the kick-off.
But regardless of their loss, they are the iconic moments that might be lost to the game with the new rules and isn’t what defined Canberra’s season according to Young.
“People do say unfinished business (in 2026) but that’s part of footy sometimes, someone’s got to win and someone’s gotta lose,” he said.
“We know what we can do here and we know that we’re a good chance to hopefully win it this year.”
If Canberra can go all the way it will be with a new halves pairing shaping up to feature young gun Ethan Sanders in the no. 7 jersey alongside growing sensation Ethan Strange.
“That’s probably the way that they’re going to go,” Young confirmed.
Sanders and Strange are close with the pair coming up together through the NSW junior reps system.
They played together in the 2023 u19s State of Origin for the Blues and in Sanders debut game for Canberra last year, a 26-24 victory over the Roosters away from home.
“He’s slotted straight in, slotted in like a glove so I enjoy playing with Sando,” Strange said.
“He’s up to it, he’s a great football player, got a very mature footy brain, which is good for everyone around him.
“He’s slotted in like a veteran out there.”
Strange himself coming off a career best season which culminated in a call up to the Kangaroos for the Ashes tour.
Despite not getting on the field, he believes the lesson’s hist learnt from rubbing shoulders with the game’s best can propel him to new levels in his game.
“Moses took me under his wing and helped me a lot with kicking and obviously (Cameron) Munster and (Nathan) Cleary,” he said.
“All those boys helped me with ball playing and the things I need to work on so I really enjoyed it.”
Waiting in the wings also is new recruit Coby Black, who has joined Canberra’s halves stocks from Brisbane after moving on from the club following the signing of Jonah Pezet for 2027.
“He’s still a young kid learning the system and getting used to that as well and he is going to be a great player for the club as well,” Young said.