It's why his five-game suspension killed him watching his Canberra Raiders teammates every week.

It's why the 21-year-old wants to repay the fans and the club as he looks to force his back into coach Ricky Stuart's team.

Young returned from his ban for eye gouging Aiden Tolman through the Mounties in the NSW Cup last weekend, and played in it again against the Warriors on Saturday morning.

But he's desperate to add to his nine NRL games.

"I can't wait to hopefully be back in the first team soon. That's where you dream to play so I can't wait to get back in there mate," Young said.

"I just can't wait to get back and give back. I let the fans down, the club down and I'm keen to get back and show everyone what I'm made of."

He admitted his five weeks out had been tough, but he's surprised his Raiders teammates with how resilient he is.

Young missed 18 months after accidentally taking a banned substance and he drew on that time to help cope with his suspension.

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It also allowed him to learn off one of the Raiders' leaders - who played his 100^th NRL game against the Warriors on Friday night.

Canberra co-captain Josh Hodgson was recovering from a broken thumb, when Young was out.

"It was tough, especially my first year in the NRL, you just want to do everything you can to play and sitting at home watching the boys it kills you," Young said.

"But knowing that you've got the boys' trust for when you come back to try and get back to your best and having Josh Papalii and Josh Hodgson - I learnt a lot off Josh [Hodgson] in that little time because I had to train with him.

"The way he carries himself - making every rep, doing everything right - I took a lot from him.

"I was in there when he was out with his thumb. Just the way he pushes himself and takes care of himself.

"We've become pretty close mates during that and I learnt a lot off the way he carries himself and how professional he is."

Young also took the positive out of his time on the sideline.

It allowed him to work on his game. But only once he'd been put through a mini training block.

Because of the State of Origin period, missing five games meant he went eight weeks without playing.

"I didn't train with the team for two weeks at the start," Young said.

"[Stuart] just wanted me to train for two weeks because it was a seven-week break.

"It was pretty much like a little pre-season to start with, but coming back into it I just tried to focus on my 'D' and just work on the little things.

"It was good in a way to focus on some things I needed to work on."

NRL ROUND 21

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Canberra Stadium, 2pm.