NRL 2022: Jordan Rapana doubles down on Ricky Stuart’s outrage over All Stars suspension loophole
Jordan Rapana has hit out at the NRL for “double standards” after he revealed how the Raiders had requested to have his one-match suspension to include the All Stars game.
NRL
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A furious Jordan Rapana has doubled down on Canberra coach Ricky Stuart’s outrage at the NRL, declaring the decision not to allow him the same All Stars suspension loophole as Brandon Smith and Reece Walsh was a clear case of “double standards”.
“I don’t want to swear but it pisses me off,” the Raiders winger said while attending the NRL season launch in Sydney on Thursday.
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And while NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo remains defiant that he will not go back and revisit Rapana’s suspension (as he did for Smith and Walsh), Rapana has explained why the Raiders were not afforded the same opportunity as Melbourne and the Warriors.
Stuart was fuming this week when he labelled it as another case of “the Canberra Raiders copping it up the a*** again”. And when you hear Rapana’s version of events it is easy to understand why the Raiders are so filthy.
He revealed how Stuart first brought up the topic with him when they found out Rapana would be selected for the Maori All Stars.
Rapana said Stuart “specifically” asked if he would be willing to use the game to write off his one-game suspension for a drink-diving ban if permitted.
“Obviously I wanted to play in it coming towards the back-end of my career,” Rapana said of the All Stars match. “I obviously had every intention to play in it.
“But he said specifically, ‘Raps, do you want to, if we can use the All Stars game as your one-game suspension for my DUI, are you happy for us (to do it)?
“And I said, ‘Bloody oath. My priority is to win a comp. If that means I can play round one then I will 100 per cent use the All Stars game’.
“Obviously they (the NRL) knocked it back and said, ‘No, that doesn’t work. You are not allowed to do that’. And then two weeks later they backflip on it again and change it again for Brandon (Smith and Walsh).”
The Raiders were initially told by the NRL integrity unit that representative games could only be used as part of a suspension for on-field incidents, not off-field discretions. And they took that decision on face value given they used it last year for Josh Papalii during State of Origin.
But that rule changed when Abdo then used his discretionary powers for Smith and Walsh following what he claims was a precedent set by judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew to allow Latrell Mitchell to use the All Stars for one game of his punishment for breaking Joey Manu’s cheekbone.
While Rapana’s ban was for drink driving, Walsh was stood down after being found in possession of cocaine, and Smith for partying at a Queensland hotel room where there was a suspicious white substance on the table.
Rapana then copped another double-whammy when he received a two-match suspension for a shoulder charge in the All Stars game, before returning to Canberra with Covid he picked up during camp.
He maintains he is not angry at Smith or Walsh, just the inconsistency: “You know, I am happy for Brandon (and Walsh). I am no knocking that at all.
“In the future I want them to use the All Stars (as a representative game that can also count as part of a suspension). But it is just double standards for them to knock me back and then two weeks later change the rules again.
“It pisses me off. There is just no consistency.
“It would have allowed me to play round one.
“And we see a couple of weeks ago Harley Smith-Shields done his ACL and he was probably the lead contender to fill in for me (on the wing).
“Now it just puts the club and Stick under more (pressure).”
RICKY’S RAGE: ‘RAIDERS COP IT UP THE A*** AGAIN’
A furious Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has blasted the NRL for what he claims are double standards after Jordan Rapana was denied access to the same suspension loophole that has since been used by Latrell Mitchell, Brandon Smith and Reece Walsh.
“It is the Canberra Raiders copping it up the arse again,” Stuart said, after he just got off the phone with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo on Monday night.
It comes after the NRL cleared Melbourne’s Smith and the Warriors’ Walsh after they were granted permission to use the All Stars match as part of their suspension.
But the Raiders are angry because they had contacted the NRL integrity unit before the All Stars match to see if they could use the same escape route for Rapana but were told it only benefited players who had been suspended for on-field offences.
The club then made the call to let Rapana play. He then copped another two-match suspension for a shoulder charge, which he can serve concurrently with his drink driving charge.
To make matters worse, Rapana also picked up Covid during All Stars camp. Yet the suspensions involving Smith and Walsh were also related to off-field issues.
While Rapana’s related to a drink driving charge, Walsh’s ban followed him being caught in possession of cocaine. Smith was filmed partying in a Queensland hotel with what appeared to be a white substance on the table.
Stuart phoned Abdo immediately after learning of the shock decision. He said he wanted to make it clear he was not angry with Abdo but the process that resulted in the outcome.
But asked directly if this was double standards, Stuart couldn’t hide his fury: “It is the Canberra Raiders copping it up the arse again. That is a quote.
“I am in disbelief and disgusted that it always seems to happen to us.
“We keep on copping it and copping it and it gets to the stage where you are absolutely fed up with it.
“I mean, this has been going on for years, we just don’t get listened to. I feel sorry for Andrew who I have the utmost respect for.
“But he has to deal with the inadequacies of people making decisions that he has to clean up.
“Andrew has apologised and said, ‘I am sorry, I cannot change the decisions that have been made’. He understands the inconsistencies. It is very hard to work in a business with the inconsistencies that the NRL have.
“It is very, very frustrating.”
SUSPENSION LOOPHOLE CLEARS SMITH FOR RD 1
by Brent Read
Melbourne forward Brandon Smith will join the Sydney Roosters next season, but he now owes a debt of gratitude to their bitter rivals, South Sydney and Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell.
So do the Storm after Smith was cleared to play in round one, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo informing Melbourne late on Monday night that their star hooker would be retrospectively allowed to serve a one-game ban in the All Stars game.
It means Smith will be free to pull on the Storm jersey in their premiership opener, when they bid to keep one of the game’s most remarkable streaks alive against the Wests Tigers.
The last time Melbourne lost a round one game under coach Craig Bellamy was in 2001.
Warriors fullback Reece Walsh will also be allowed to use the All Stars game as part of the suspension he received late last year after being caught with cocaine on the Gold Coast.
Both clubs had acted after judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew deemed that Mitchell would serve part of the ban he incurred last season for a high shot on former teammate Joey Manu in the All Stars game.
That verdict prompted a flurry of emails from the Storm and Warriors as they sought to have the same rule applied to Smith and Walsh.
After days of mulling over their applications, and taking into account the need for consistency and clarity, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo arrived at his decision on Monday after consultation with the ARL Commission.
Abdo also revealed that he had instructed his staff to come up with some recommendations to clarify the rules around suspensions relating to on – and off-field matters, cognisant of the fact that recent events had muddied the waters for clubs, players and fans.
“In making my decision, I have considered eligibility, likelihood of selection and consistency with the chairman of the judiciary.
“I have asked my team to simplify the rules so we are able to present some proposed changes to the commission for consideration.
“This will be aimed at simplifying and harmonising sanctions between on-field matters dealt with by the judiciary and off-field matters dealt with by the NRL rules.”
Smith was suspended for the opening game of the season after being filmed in a room with white powder alongside teammates Cameron Munster and Chris Lewis last year. While Munster and Lewis are unable to benefit from the All Stars game, Smith would have been a walk-up start for the Maori side.
There was also good news for the Warriors as Walsh was cleared to return in round two.
Walsh was suspended for two matches after being caught with cocaine on the Gold Coast late last year but he too would have been a certain selection in the indigenous All Stars team.
The thought was that the clubs’ bid to have the All Stars game included in their bans would come up short given off-field bans generally relate only to NRL games.
Yet Abdo recognised the need for consistency and surprisingly ruled in their favour as he fell into line with Bellew. He acknowledged afterwards that the rules needed tightening given the lack of clarity and the confusion that surrounded the initial rulings on Mitchell, Walsh and Smith.
Smith will be a welcome addition to the Storm ranks for round one given they will be without Munster, Lewis and fellow hooker Harry Grant, who was suspended at the end of last season.
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