Ricky Stuart blows up after Jack Wighton’s controversial sin bin
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is known for his blow-ups, but this explosive tantrum would certainly rank among his finest.
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The Canberra Raiders survived a chaotic opening 40 minutes against the New Zealand Warriors at GIO Stadium to secure a 26-14 victory in their penultimate match of the regular season.
Disaster struck the Raiders early when George Williams was taken off the field with a head injury in the eighth minute. The halfback failed his HIA and did not return for the remainder of the encounter, with Elliott Whitehead replacing him in the halves.
Then, for the seventh consecutive week, Canberra conceded the opening try of the match, with fullback Peta Hiku diving over for the Warriors.
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An old-school brawl erupted in the 25th minute, with several players from both sides getting involved in the fisty-cuffs.
Sparked by a confrontation between Warriors prop Lachlan Burr and Raiders forward Josh Papalii, the scuffle resulted in a five-minute delay as officials reviewed the footage and spoke to the captains.
Replays showed Burr reacted when someone pulled his hair, but rather than Papalii as he initially suspected, the culprit was English international John Bateman.
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Andrew Voss said on Fox League: “I think John Bateman, the tattooed arm over the top … he’s got away with this.
“He was throwing petrol on the fire.”
Soon after, Canberra playmaker Jack Wighton was sent to the sin bin for being off-side after repeated offences from his teammates.
Wighton pleaded with the referee: “Can we challenge it?”
The referee’s response left the commentators in stitches: “Jack, you’re in the bin mate.”
With the Warriors ahead 10-6, the Raiders were down to 12 players and without their star five-eighth.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is known for his explosive blow-ups, but his explosive reaction to the sin bin would certainly rank among his finest.
Stuart flung his half-drunk water bottle out the window of his viewing bow, adding in a few expletives for good measure.
Penrith Panthers great Greg Alexander muttered: “This is boiling over.”
Voss replied: “That is not done in jest like Craig Bellamy up on the Sunshine Coast; that is raw emotion from Ricky Stuart.”
To rub salt in the wounds, the Warriors scored immediately after the sin bin to extend their lead to 14-6.
AAP reporter Scott Bailey tweeted: “Didn’t think I could possibly respect the Warriors any more this season, but the way they’re playing today with their season over and just right days away from flying home … Wow.”
Despite the one-man disadvantage and a flurry of handling errors, Canberra managed to score twice before halftime to somehow get ahead on the scoreboard.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen next today,” Voss laughed.
“Somehow, Canberra has worked their way to the front.”
Alexander responded: “The Raiders went through a period where they lost their minds.”
My head hurts. What a bizarre half of footy. #NRLRaidersWarriors
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) September 20, 2020
Raider v Warrior game very difficult to watch. Very stop/start. Unfortunately several injuries too. Hope all ok. Two intercepts changed the course of this contest. Raiders still building towards finals. Not at full tilt yet. But a big match team. Warrior again very brave. Tough.
— PhilGould15 (@PhilGould15) September 20, 2020
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At halftime, Canberra had conceded seven penalties, six more than their opponents.
During the break, former Sydney Roosters star Braith Anasta argued Wighton’s sin bin was unwarranted.
“Controversial decision in my eyes; I believe it didn’t warrant 10 in the bin,” Anasta said on Fox League.
“If he was off-side, Jack was only just, and I don’t think it was actually deliberate.”
After winger Semi Valemei snared a classy double, the Raiders secured their 13th victory of the season, and their quest for a place in the top four lives on.
Next weekend, Canberra will take on the Cronulla Sharks in Sydney, while the Warriors will face the struggling Manly Sea Eagles on the Central Coast.
Originally published as Ricky Stuart blows up after Jack Wighton’s controversial sin bin