Sin binned Raiders star Hudson Young avoids ban after fuming Ricky Stuart rejected 'ill-discipline' perception

Rugby league could have another crackdown on its hands after Ricky Stuart was once again left to field questions about the refereeing.

Just days after the NRL sent an email around regarding high contact in round four and the lack of sin bins, Raiders star Hudson Young found himself in the crosshairs of the officials on Thursday night in a tough back-and-forth clash against Cronulla.

With the scores locked at 18-18 in the second half, Young was belatedly penalised for a tackle on Sharks skipper Cameron McInnes from a few plays earlier.

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Young was called out by referee Todd Smith, along with captain Joseph Tapine, before the back-rower was given his marching orders.

But Young avoided a ban with the match review committee offering the NSW Blues star a $1800 fine. He will cop a $2500 fine if he challenges the charge at the judiciary and loses.

Brad Fittler wasn't in favour of the decision to send Young to the sin bin and questioned the level of force.

"That's a huge reaction to what went on last weekend," Fittler said on Nine.

"He is standing his ground and going backwards."

Cronulla's only premiership-winning captain even questioned the sin-binning.

"That's a huge call - I don't think it was that forceful," Paul Gallen said.

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The decision looked to have proved costly for the Green Machine, who conceded another penalty moments later and the Sharks nailed a penalty goal to take the lead.

But in an incredible turn of events with less than two minutes to go, Young kick-started perhaps the try of the season, which ended with Seb Kris going over untouched.

"That's as good of a try as you will ever see," Cameron Smith said on Nine.

Speaking post-game, Young admitted his emotions would have been different earlier in his career and didn't think he would have much to worry about from the match review committee.

"Obviously I was really disappointed to let the team down," he told Nine.

"Honestly, I don't think there was too much in it.

"I just had to control my emotions and spend my 10 minutes in the bin. A couple of years ago I would have gone in there and seen red, but I was able to control myself."

Stuart was also quizzed on the decision in his post-game press conference and heaped praise on the Raiders for the fight shown in the second half.

"The way they fought and hung in there … we had every reason to lose it," he said.

"We're not that ill-disciplined. It was like when we played Manly two weeks ago, this team is not that ill-disciplined. I don't know what I can do as a coach. I don't go out and coach grubby tactics. I don't go out and coach to be ill-disciplined. 

"We had nothing - the penalty count was 7-2. You can't tell me other teams don't give away penalties as well. I hate talking about it.

"Todd is a wonderful ref, not having a go at him. I hope I'm allowed to give him a rap."

When asked if he knew what constituted a sin bin, Stuart had a one-word reply.

"Nup," the veteran coach said.

Young's sin-bin wasn't the only bit of controversy in the match, with Kaeo Weekes denied by the Bunker after teammate Matty Nicholson was penalised for obstruction.

Gallen was critical of that decision as well and believed the try should have remained.