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'Ukrainian brothers': Cleary, Young to represent heritage in Origin

Published by Brad Walter, IntRL
31 May 2023

“The Ukrainian brothers”.

That’s how Hudson Young described himself and Nathan Cleary as the pair posed for photos together after being selected in the NSW Blues team for the opening State of Origin at Adelaide Oval.

Young, who will be making his Origin debut in the Blues second-row, and Cleary are among just three players in the NRL with Ukrainian heritage and they will play together for the first time in the series opener.
Nathan Cleary and Hudson Young have Ukrainian heritage (NRL Photos)

The pair have spoken out in support of the people of Ukraine and the Ukraine Rugby League since the Russian invasion last year, but they hadn’t met before going into camp with the NSW team.

“I knew that Hudson was Ukrainian as well, so I am really looking forward to playing alongside him,” Cleary said. “He is hard to handle, and he is a great player.”

Young’s grandmother, Valentina, who lived in a migrant hostel after coming to Australia with her parents, sister and other family members at the end of World War II, was in Canberra after the Raiders’ match against Manly Sea Eagles when he learned of his NSW selection.

He immediately went to find his partner Kelsea Peck, who was with his grandparents, Terry and Valentina Martin, and told them the news.


Hudson Young preparing for his Origin debut for NSW (NRL Photos)

“Nan and Pop were massive for me to get me on this journey where I am today so to have them there when I told them the news was special,” Young said.

“They were really excited. They put a lot of time and effort into me, driving me all around the state to play.”

The 24-year-old said he was looking forward to playing alongside Cleary, who met Ukraine Rugby League president Artur Martyrosian in Manchester after steering Australia to victory in last November’s World Cup final against Samoa at Old Trafford.

“It is pretty cool to have two players here of Ukraine heritage so to be able to represent them, as well, is obviously very special to me and to Nathan too,” Young said.

“It is devastating what is happening over there and I know how hard it is for Nan and her side of the family. It’s probably no different for Nathan’s family as well.”

While Cleary is committed to Australia, there is the possibility his younger Jett, who plays for Penrith’s SG Ball team, is eligible to play for Ukraine.

Their cousins, Phoenix and Cruz Death, the sons of former Raiders and Warriors hooker Jason Death also qualify as heritage players.


Cleary with Ukraine RL president Artur Martyrosian in England 

Panthers team-mate Jaeman Salmon also has Ukraine heritage through his great grandparents, who moved to Canada after the war.

The Ukraine Rugby League have proudly adopted the Panthers duo and Canberra forward Hudson Young, and regularly post about their NRL feats on social media.

“I have seen the posts and that is pretty cool," Salmon told NRL.com. "My mum grew up speaking Ukrainian around the house because my grandparents spoke Ukrainian, but I don't know too much about it.

"I have just known that I have Ukrainian in me but my grandparents are in Canada so I haven’t really talked to them that much about it."

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