NRL 2021: Canberra Raiders sack four players over glassing in Civic district

It’s the ‘one thing that just doesn’t wash at our club’ and when four SG Ball players crossed that line then their days as Canberra players were numbered.

The Raiders have taken a zero tolerance stance by sacking four junior players who were involved in an incident that included one of the players being glassed.

All four players featured in Canberra’s SG Ball side that beat Cronulla last weekend, later becoming involved in an alcohol-fuelled incident that escalated into a melee.

The incident led to a player being wounded with a glass bottle in the Civic district.

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Raiders officials summoned the four players to a meeting upon being made aware of the incident early this week.

It’s understood at least three players tried to cover up the incident by giving false information to Raiders management.

Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart said: “The incident is one thing, but lying to your superiors just doesn’t wash at our club.

The Raiders and coach Ricky Stuart have taken a zero tolerance approach.

“It may seem tough, but this isn’t the culture that we accept at our club.’’

The Raiders playing group were informed of the club’s decision at training on Friday.

The sackings emerged just 24-hours after Stuart had declared Canberra forwards Corey Harawira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh had lost their spot in his team after the duo were caught drink-driving.

An unrelenting Stuart has taken his own stance against the key forwards before any likely punishment from the NRL.

Corey Harawira-Naera lost his spot in the team after being caught drink-driving.

“It’s not my job to keep a position in this team - it’s their job,’’ Stuart said.

“And they haven’t given themselves a real good head start.’’

Harawira-Naera was caught drink driving with a mid-range reading by ACT Police on Christmas Eve while Horsburgh was charged after recording a low-range reading on January 3.

Horsburgh will appear on February 23 at the Canberra Magistrates Court with Harawira-Naera due to appear on March 25.