Hudson Young, in the moments after Canberra’s win against at Allegiant Stadium, is asked if he will celebrate with a few beers.
“I’ve gotta keep a lid on it,” Young grinned.
For Young, the biggest story during the NRL’s second foray into Vegas, this is the key to success. In the past, if he were involved in an incident like the one involving himself and Raiders teammate Morgan Smithies, he would have overcompensated on the field in a bid to atone.
“I didn’t want to fall into that mindset of proving people wrong because I knew that I didn’t do much to start with,” he said.
“I just wanted to go out there and play my game and I feel like if I came out with something to prove, I feel like that’s when things go wrong.
“I just kept the same mindset that I had the whole time and try to be myself. I think previously when I’ve got in trouble I’ll probably come and tried too hard.
“I feel like that’s where I have matured. Just keep level-headed, knowing my game and back my own ability.”
Young said he was thankful that coach Ricky Stuart allowed him to redeem himself on the field.
“The one thing with ‘Sticky’ (Stuart), if you tell the truth to him he’ll back you up,” he said.
Hudson Young experienced a wild week in Vegas.Credit: Getty Images
“I felt terrible because I let ‘Stick’ down, I let my teammates down. I just wanted to come out and play my game and make sure that we win … The club have put so much faith and time into me and I’m trying to grow as a person off the field as well.
“I feel like that’s helped me in good stead for moments like this. It was terrible news for the NRL and I own that, it was a bad light on it.”
Canberra’s win has come at a cost. Joseph Tapine is facing a two-game ban for a shoulder charge on Mitch Barnett, while Xavier Savage is facing one to two weeks on the sidelines for a challenge on Warriors kicker Harris-Tavita.
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The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL
