Whitehead pokes fun at fiery Robbo clash in social media post

Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead has had a cheeky dig at Roosters coach Trent Robinson after their public spat on Sunday.

Trent Robinson and Elliott Whitehead

Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead has had some fun following his explosive run-in with Roosters coach Trent Robinson, posting a video on social media site Instagram.

Whitehead was twice sin binned during Canberra’s win over the Roosters, with Robinson taking aim at the Raiders forward post-match for his hip drop tackle on Brandon Smith, which caused an ACL injury that ended the hooker’s season.

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Fox League’s James Hooper has reported that while Robinson refused to accept Whitehead’s apology, Smith passed on a message to the forward’s Raiders teammate Jordan Rapana indicating he harbours no ill will for the tackle.

Whitehead also earned a second sin bin during the game for lashing out with his boot to stop an offload and contacting Angus Crichton, being handed a fine for the incident.

Trent Robinson and Elliott Whitehead.

The UK international posted a video of the Crichton incident and dubbed it with audio of commentary from a game in England where a commentator calls for a player to be “sent off”.

Underneath the video, Whitehead wrote the captain “Get him off the field” accompanied by two laughing emojis.

It was a game marred by injury, with the Roosters losing four players throughout the dramatic 80 minutes, including star half Sam Walker and Smith to serious knee injuries which have ended their seasons.

The NRL handed down their sanction for the Smith incident on Monday, with Whitehead earning a three-game suspension with an early guilty plea for grade three dangerous contact.

The ban could spell the end of Whitehead’s NRL career, with the Raiders needing to reach the preliminary final for him to feature again after signing with the Catalans Dragons for 2025.

The interaction between Robinson and Whitehead was raised by the Raiders veteran in Canberra’s post-match press conference, which was before the Roosters’.

Whitehead was asked about the two sin bins, to which he replied: “OK, I’ll talk about it.

“Obviously I didn’t mean to (hurt) Brandon. I know he’s come up with a bad injury and I’m sorry to him for that, but I just wasn’t happy for the way I went up to ask about Brandon and apologise and Trent Robinson has had a go at me and turned on me.

“The way he did that, I thought it was out of order. I don’t know what he said in his media if he’s done if he’s yet but yeah look, I’m sorry to Brandon.

“Regarding the other sin bin, I don’t know if you know the rules or if I don’t know the rules, I was trying to stop an offload. I didn’t strike him in any malicious way but whatever, I don’t care.”

Robinson was then asked about the conversation with Whitehead, confirming what was said between the pair and sensationally accusing the Canberra captain of commonly making hip drop tackles.

“He came up and wanted to ask how Brandon was and I just said it’s too many times,” Robinson said.

“The hip drop has been pretty common in his game for a long time and I just said it’s too many times and that it’s cost us a player. That was it.

“He said it was an accident and I said well it’s too many times.”

When Robinson was asked to clarify if he meant Whitehead had done too many hip drops in his career, the Roosters coach doubled down.

“Yeah. He’s done it a lot in his career, so it’s been pretty common if you go and have a look,” he said.

“I like Elliott. I’ve watched him since he played for Bradford and Catalans but it’s been pretty common.

“I know he’s opened it up here which is why we’re talking about it and I wouldn’t want to usually talk to you guys about it, but he opened it up and it’s been really common in his game his whole career.”

Originally published as Whitehead pokes fun at fiery Robbo clash in social media post