Canberra star Hudson Young has been charged for pulling the hair of Knights winger Dom Young during Sunday’s game at Hunter Stadium.
The Origin backrower was penalised and lucky not to be sin binned for the incident in the 58th minute.
On Monday he was hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge, for which he can pay a $1000 fine.
Young was making a tackle on Newcastle centre Dane Gagai when Dominic Young came over to stop his teammate being pushed into touch.
Hudson Young took exception to it and yanked on the Knights winger’s hair, forcing him to fall to the ground.
Newcastle players ran in to defend their teammate and the referee warned Young he was close to going to the bin, which would have left the Raiders two men down at the time.
Young is one of four players charged from Sunday’s 32-12 Knights victory, but all can accept fines.
From the earlier Sunday game, Warriors player Adam Pompey faces suspension for dangerous contact on Sharks star Briton Nikora.
A series of contentious calls left league greats angered after the Raiders were denied a try and reduced to 12 men in a heated showing against the Knights.
Newcastle delivered a promising performance in front of their home crowd to defeat the 2025 minor premiers 32-12, but they did not do so without controversy.
The hosts entered the second half with a four-point advantage and a debutant on the field, with star centre Bradman Best ruled out of the game with a groin injury.
Three minutes into the second half, the Raiders were left to farewell Savelio Tamale to the sin bin.
Tamale was given his marching orders for his efforts to stop Dominic Young from scoring a stellar try, having batted the ball into touch while holding onto the Knights star.
Young was quick to plea with referee Adam Gee about his opponent’s action before a decision to challenge the on-field ruling was finally made. The Bunker then confirmed that Tamale would be heading to the sin bin.
“It won’t be a penalty try, but it is a professional foul,” Andrew Johns said on Nine.
“It’s 10 in the bin? That’s a bit harsh,” Billy Slater added.
Young didn’t need long to get his name put on the try-scorers list, doing so just four minutes after Tamale was given his marching orders.
It was Canberra who were left scrambling for answers as the side feared Young could be joining his teammate in the sin bin.
Minutes later, a try for Phoenix Crossland did not please the visitors at all.
Ricky Stuart could not hide his frustration as he stood on the sidelines, with the Raiders coach left in disbelief as his men were denied four points by the Bunker due to an accidental contact by Josh Papali’i on Trey Mooney in the build-up to Zac Hosking’s try.
“We are just looking for reasons not to give it,” Johns said as the referee signalled the Bunker was intervening with the on-field ruling.
“That is a slight bump then it is a defence error. This is ridiculous, and you know where my heart lies. That is a try.”
“I can’t believe some of these decisions that have been made,” Paul Gallen added.
Stuart bluntly told reporters that “it doesn’t matter what I think” about the call post-game. He would not elaborate on the matter any further.
Four minutes later, Greg Marzhew bagged his second try. Young added a second of his own soon after, while Ethan Strange added four points to the Raiders’ score.
