Raiders cop cruel injury blow as Origin star hobbles off
The Rabbitohs looked set for a long trip back to Sydney from the nation’s capital on Saturday until an inspiring half-time speech and a likely season-ending injury to a Raiders star left the side within arms reach of victory.
Canberra had piled on 28 points in 27 minutes in the first half, before the parachutes came out and they scored only once more before full-time. The Rabbitohs piled on the heat and looked a chance to pull off a stunning comeback.
Hudson Young goes down with an Achilles injury. Fox Sports
The hosts eventually held on for a 34-24 victory, but it looks as if it’s come at a cost.
Hudson Young was in agony when he left the field with a lower-leg injury, and cameras at full time showed him wearing a moon boot, and Young in tears. Club officials suspect a ruptured Achilles.
The Blues Origin star was had retreated in defence, but immediately collapsed to the ground as he tried to push off.
“Oh no ... you never like to see this,” Luke Keary said in on Fox League.
“I’ve seen calves, and I don’t want to say it, but sometimes an Achilles can go like that. This does not look good. It’s that mechanism when they go to put their foot back to push forward and it’s just popped on him.”
Fox League’s commentary went on to recognise that Young was showing similar signs to Storm winger Will Warbrick, who on Friday ruptured his Achilles. It was then confirmed that Young had suffered the same injury.
“It is a massive blow. I feel for him,” Ricky Stuart told reporters post-match.
“It hasn’t hit him yet. He is actually Ok, but I’ve been there personally and it will hit you over the next few days.
“He will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup. I know (injuries are) part of the game ... it happens to every club, so many players. Unfortunately, it is heartache.
“But he has the right people around him. We will look after him.”
The cruel injury blow will not only impact the Raiders but also the Australian Kangaroos, who are set to play in the Rugby League World Cup in October.
Prior to his injury, Young put on a show for the hosts, scoring in the corner to bring Canberra to a 10-point lead in the 10th minute.
The ball went through the 11 sets of hands before it eventually found Jed Stuart on the edge, who knew he would not be able to step past South Sydney’s defence. He then threw a beautiful flick pass back towards his teammates, but it hit the grass in front of Young, who then kicked it up and pounced in the corner.
“That was unbelievable. That will be up there for try of the year,” Keary said.
The longest gap between tries after Young scored was 10 minutes, with Canberra fans roaring as Noah Martin got over the line and Kaeo Weekes bagged a double.
The hosts were unlucky not to have six tries awarded in the first half, with Xavier Savage appearing to crash over the tryline and bring the side’s lead to 32-6.
A replay of his try-scoring efforts sparked some alarm for Keary, who recognised that a slight bobble of the ball before Savage grounded it would rub out the try.
Zac Hosking runs the ball. Getty Images
A lengthy review was needed to decide if that would be the case, with the Bunker focused on whether the ball did touch the hand of Cody Walker. The Bunker confirmed it did touch the hand of the Rabbitohs playmaker before Savage regained control of the ball and grounded it; therefore the try was denied.
An enthusiastic start to the second half saw Alex Johnston and Cameron Murray put their names on the scoreboard for South Sydney.
Jed Stuart ran the length of the field to silence the Rabbitohs shortly after, but Cody Walker hit back fast in the 65th minute despite the referee missing the playmaker’s knock on in the play prior to him grounding the ball.
“The referee has got that wrong - he’s made a big error, but they can’t go back,” Keary said.
Steve Roach added: “The referee was in two minds. He was about to blow the whistle and then let it play on.”
In the end, South Sydney, despite a strong effort, couldn’t find victory.
