'Goal of mine': Young declares captaincy ambition

After leading the Raiders to their stunning last gasp win against the Sharks, Hudson Young has declared his ambition to officially lead the team as captain.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart labelled Young as a future captain after his remarkable efforts to get Canberra across the line in last Thursday night's gripping 24-20 defeat of Cronulla at GIO Stadium.

At just 25, the NSW Origin forward has already established himself as one of the NRL's most dynamic players.

From game-winning moments to hard-hitting tackles, Young has been a driving force behind the Raiders’ recent success, and he has higher goals.

“It is obviously a goal of mine. I love the club so much and love all the boys here and love Canberra as a place," Young said about taking on a future leadership role.

"Joe [Tapine] is doing a tremendous job and I'm just happy to lead behind him.” 

After returning from the sin-bin to create Canberra's dramatic match winning try, proud coach Stuart made it clear that Young is likely to lead the Raiders one day.

“That is the best start to the season I reckon Hudson has had since I have coached him.” Stuart said.

“He loves rugby league, he loves the Raiders, he loves his position in the club at the moment. He is a guy who could one day take over from Taps as a captain, you know if he’s around that long.”

An integral and dynamic part of the Raiders attack this season, Young seems to be right where the action is at all the crucial times, and he scored two tries before creating the match winner against the Sharks in dramatic circumstances.

“It is something I have always tried to do, just turn up at the right time, and that’s the way I play footy – off instinct," he said.

"I think that is probably one of our best attributes - being in the moment at the right time, and you just got to put yourself in the picture and sometimes get lucky."

With the Raiders trailing by two points in the final minute of what had been a try-less second half, it was a last-ditch effort from Young that got his team up the field for Seb Kris to score a miracle try in front of a hysterical home crowd.

"I just looked up and called for the ball for Jamal [Fogarty] and was lucky enough to go through and then thought I needed to give it to someone a bit faster than me," Young said.

"It just typifies the support we have here at the club, how much everyone buys in ... you don’t score tries like that unless you really want it."

A call from the bunker had earlier resulted in Young being sent to the sinbin for a high shot on Sharks skipper Cameron McInnes and the visitors regained the lead through a Nicho Hynes penalty goal.

He was charged with a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle and faces a fine.   

“I didn’t think anything of it when I made the tackle, and I don’t think McInnes did either, but it’s just one of those things," Young said.

"I think you can tell which ones forceful and which ones aren’t. I had no intent in my tackle. Cameron’s not the biggest guy, but I have obviously just got to lower my contacts.

“I did my time in the bin and the rest is history.”