Ricky Stuart has fired off the first shot at NRL officials for the 2024 season, suggesting Canberra Raiders' second-rower Hudson Young should never have been sin binned during a Round 1 upset win over the Newcastle Knights.
Young found himself sitting on the sideline for ten minutes during the first half after making late and dangerous contact with Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga.
The Newcastle star, who took out the 2023 Dally M Medal, had made a break out of his own half and, after swerving out of the way of an attempted tackle, passed the ball. As he continued downfield, Young took a number of steps towards Ponga before making contact with him.