Canberra Raiders rookie Hudson Young banned for five games

Young has entered an early guilty plea on his grade three dangerous contact charge for an eye gouge on Canterbury forward Aiden Tolman.

The Raiders were granted a two-hour extension as they looked to build a case for the suspension to be lightened but opted to enter an early guilty plea to avoid the risk of a seven-match ban.

It means the Green Machine will be without the services of 20-year-old Young for their clash with the Wests Tigers at Western Sydney Stadium on Friday night.

Young's hefty suspension comes as fellow emerging forward Corey Horsburgh prepares for two to three weeks on the sidelines with a fractured elbow.

It leaves the Raiders sweating on the fitness of Queensland star Josh Papalii, who will need to back up just 48 hours after the State of Origin series opener.

If the Maroons front-rower pulls up lame then Canberra forward John Bateman laughs he might have to call in the cavalry from the north of England.

"I might have to ring a few mates and see if they fancy a game of rugby," Bateman said.

"It's part and parcel of the game, you get injuries and stuff like that, and the boys in Origin at the moment, you can't do much about it.

"The lads that have been coming in, they'll do a job so that's all we need to worry about.

"You get to see first-hand in pre-season what you are dealing with and what the squad is like. When I first came in for pre-season, I knew we had really good depth in the squad, and we knew we had some good young kids coming through.

"Everyone is getting to see now, everyone is getting to see them play and perform. They're going out there and doing their job really well.

"I'll just go out there and do what I do really, everyone else will be doing the same. If everyone does their individual jobs, we'll go out there and get the two points, and that's what it's all about."

Young and Horsburgh's absence is somewhat offset by the depth at Canberra's disposal, with coach Ricky Stuart rotating a host of players through the top grade this season.

Emerging prospects Emre Guler, Jack Murchie, and JJ Collins have all tasted the top grade this season while Royce Hunt could build on his lone NRL appearance in lime green to join Bateman following his return from a fractured eye socket.

"First tackle I got hit straight in the eye, so after about five seconds of the game ... but then I knew straight away is was going to be fine," Bateman said.