English international John Bateman knew just how good Hudson Young was going to be after spending two seasons with him at the Raiders.
The 29-year-old, currently playing his trade for the Tigers, left the nation’s capital at the end of the 2020 season after he was released to seek better offers.
Bateman joined the Raiders in 2019, the year Young made his debut before he was suspended twice for two separate incidents of eye gouging.
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The following year, with Bateman settled in the backrow, Young’s game time increased and he played an average of 57 minutes — starting at prop in the preliminary final loss to the Storm.
After their season finished, a Canberra Times report emerged questioning how Ricky Stuart would fill the gaping hole.
“Hudson Young. The lad will be (an) Origin and Australian representative in a couple of years,” Bateman tweeted in reply on February 2021.
And he was right.
The 24-year-old backrower has emerged as one of the NRL’s most dynamic forwards, proving a valuable asset for the Raiders in both attack and defence.
There were loud calls for Young to earn a Kangaroos call-up ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but he will instead get his first taste of representative football off the bench for NSW.
As if he was looking through a crystal ball, Bateman once again tweeted on Monday after the Blues team was released.
“One down one to go my mate. Buzzing for @Hudsonyoung5 on the Origin call up.”
Speaking to foxsports.com.au, Young explained the impact Bateman had on him coming through the Canberra system.
“He manifested it for me I think, John put a lot of time and effort into me at Canberra and he was a backrower there when I was coming through,” Young said.
“I tried to soak as much as I could in from him and learn from him, he’s a world class player and still is today.”
Young also has two other Raiders teammates who know what it takes to be successful Origin players — Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii.
Having played 10 games for the Blues, Wighton called it quits on his representative career in April.
Meanwhile, Papalii, with 23 games for Queensland under his belt, dropped a bombshell four days prior to Maroons camp by announcing his own retirement.
Young said it was great to have teammates who he could lean on if he needs any guidance.
“He reached out to me yesterday and just said to give him a call through the week and give him a text and he’ll leave me alone today,” Young said.
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“It’s really good for me to have someone like Jack in my corner, especially Papa as well.
“But I’m not sure how much advice I’ll be getting from his as a Queenslander… it’s good not having to tackle him, I tackle him every day at training so good to have a rest from him.”
For now, Young is just soaking up the Origin experience and was clearly still shocked that he was set to wear the famous sky blue jersey.
“It has been crazy mate, obviously finding out yesterday and rushing straight up here and straight into it today,” Young said.
“I had a missed call from Freddy (Fittler) and called him back and found out I was in… we lost yesterday so I was a little disappointed sitting in the sheds.
“A little slow to get on my phone, but once I found out I went straight outside and gave him a call.
“It’s really exciting for myself and my family, I don’t really know what to say, I’m just really excited to get out there and take my opportunity with two hands.”