NSW’s handling of Hudson Young has angered Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, who called Michael Maguire’s decision to bench the back rower “disgraceful.”
Young saw just 22 minutes of action off the bench during NSW’s crushing defeat by the Maroons in Game I, and as a result, he was left out of Maguire’s State of Origin II side.
Former Raiders teammates Stuart and Maguire are staying on the squad as video consultants after working as assistants the previous season.
However, Stuart continued to jump to Young’s defense on Saturday, saying that this was not the first time NSW had treated him cruelly.
Stuart expressed his opinion that the way he has been handled in Origin for the past two seasons has been shameful.
They want devotion to the jumper and a sense of loyalty, but you also have to put in some effort.
“Given the amount of game time he’s put in both series and then finding himself out, they either made the wrong decision or didn’t treat the child right.”