‘This is a gee-up’: Wild detail of NRL Las Vegas hotel punch up

Bizarre details of the Las Vegas hotel punch up that has given the NRL a black eye have emerged with a pair of Raiders stars “publicly shamed”.

The Las Vegas hotel punch-up between Raiders stars Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies has been called a “gee-up” as bizarre details of the fight continue to emerge.

The representative forwards on Tuesday morning confirmed in a press conference that it was a request to share a bed that saw the pair embroiled in an elevator scuffle inside their team hotel at the Hilton Resorts World on the famous Las Vegas strip.

News broke on Monday night of a fight between the teammates ahead of the NRL’s Las Vegas season opener with coach Ricky Stuart confirming the incident.

Code Sports initially reported Young and Smithies had come to blows following their first night on the Vegas strip.

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It has now been reported the blow-up occurred after Smithies had been left without a room over another check-in meltdown at the venue that has been plagued with booking system failures all week.

The pair had enjoyed a boozy night out on the town on Thursday local time — with the club’s permission — and had returned to the facility when things took a crazy turn.

Smithies is reported to have asked teammate Young to share his bed as he faced being homeless for the night. Young refused.

Veteran journalist Danny Weidler on Tuesday morning reported Smithies had suggested the pair wrestle to decide who should sleep in the bed that night.

Canberra Raiders players Hudson Young (L) and Morgan Smithies (R) front the media in Las Vegas. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

Hudson Young (L) and Morgan Smithies (R) were grilled by reporters. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

Not yet under the watch of hotel security, the players ended up in an elevator — where, while still fighting, one of them bumped an emergency button that alerted security guards, who began watching the players on the hotel precinct’s network of 5000 security cameras.

Hours earlier, one of the players had bought an inflatable baseball bat as a souvenir on Las Vegas Boulevarde. The item was initially mistaken as a serious weapon by security.

The pair were temporarily evicted from the hotel after security staff at the venue reviewed footage of the incident.

Weidler told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning that the pair were not listed as guests on the hotel’s booking system because of the technical malfunction.

They were eventually able to return to their rooms.

The Raiders are furious over the situation and Stuart has given two of his biggest stars a public tongue lashing.

The club called a snap press conference on Tuesday morning (AEDT) with the pair apologising.

Weidler reported journalists were given open slather to ask any questions they liked during the press conference, stating Young and Smithies had been “publicly shamed”.

Former Bulldogs playmaker Josh Reynolds said on Sky Sports Radio the incident was not big news.

Kelsea Peck (middle) and Tara Stoddart (right) are the partners of Canberra Raiders pair Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies.

“This was literally a gee up of who is going to get the room,” the former NSW State of Origin five-eighth said.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo also addressed the incident before travelling to the United States on Tuesday.

“NRL players are professionals and know they are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times,” Abdo said.

“We expect exceptional standards from our athletes on and off the field.”

Young, 26, and Smithies, 24, confirmed during the press conference the incident was a disagreement that “got out of hand”.

“We came back after a night out on Thursday and there was an issue with the room,” Young said.

“We’re not going to go into details of that. There was a scuffle in the elevator, nothing in the hallways.

“We came back as a team (from a night out) and one of the boys had got a toy baseball bat somewhere.

“That was mistaken as a weapon in the elevator but it played no role.

“Security didn’t break anything up... We went downstairs to sort our room out and that’s when they’ve reviewed the footage and asked us to leave.

“The club sorted it out and we’re very thankful to be staying here at Resorts World.”

Smithies fronted the camera with a black eye, but told reporters the bruise was from contact at an earlier training session.

Young said there were no lingering issues between the pair.

The NSW State of Origin star said during the media conference that Smithies is one of his closest teammates and that their partners are currently holidaying together in the United States.

Young’s partner Kelsea Peck on Monday night (AEDT) posted a photo on Instagram showing her alongside Smithies’ partner Tara Stoddart during a night out in Los Angeles.

“We are best mates,” Young said.

“He was at mine for Christmas and our partners are travelling America at the moment so there’s no issues there.

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was furious at the pair. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Canberra Raiders players Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies had a fight after one of them wouldn't share their bed in their hotel at Resorts World in Las Vegas.

“I spoke to my partner but there was nothing to say because we’re best mates. It was honestly nothing.

“We’re so close as a team and me and Morgan are really good mates. Everyone knows that. We are strong.

“We’ve dealt with this many days ago and have moved on.

“I feel awful, especially for my family as well. It’s a massive thing for them coming over here and they have to deal with this as well.”

Young said he was “embarrassed for myself, our teammates and the NRL”.

Stuart said the pair’s behaviour was “unacceptable” and said the club would deal with it “strongly”.

Smithies also made a public apology.

“He was disappointed and we were in ourselves,” Smithies said of his coach.

“We apologised and are looking to move on and focus on this week.

“It’s a massive week so we want to put it to bed.”

Despite Stuart’s rebuke, the pair have not yet been sanctioned by the NRL and are expected to be cleared to play in the team’s season opener against the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

It would be a heavy blow for the Raiders if the pair were scratched.

Young had arguably the best season of his career in 2024, earning selection in the Kangaroos Test squad for the Pacific Cup.

Englishman Smithies was also a revelation for the Raiders in 2024, proving to be one of the NRL’s best tackling machines since moving from the Super League to Canberra.

According to Code Sports, the Raiders and NRL will likely take disciplinary action aginst the pair when they arrive back in Australia and suspensions are a possibility.

Penrith is facing the Sharks in the second match of the double-header.

Originally published as ‘This is a gee-up’: Wild detail of NRL Las Vegas hotel punch up