NRL round six: Canberra Raiders defeat Gold Coast Titans 21-20, Ricky Stuart sounds off on Des Hasler for comments
Des Hasler was quick to criticise Kasey Badger’s refereeing performance following his side’s one-point loss to the Canberra Raiders, sparking a war of words from Ricky Stuart towards the Titans coach.
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NRL referee boss Jared Maxwell can expect his phone to run hot on Monday morning after match official Kasey Badger was embroiled in a war of words between veteran coaches Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart following the Canberra Raiders’ 21-20 golden point victory over the Gold Coast Titans.
Hasler went out of his way to criticise Badger’s performance in the aftermath of his side’s loss, as the Titans’ winless start to the season continued.
The Titans battled for field possession for the entirety of the game, though managed to claw their way back into proceedings despite having only 25 per cent of possession for the first 50 minutes.
Hasler also questioned the legality of a charge down by Raiders debutant Chevy Stewart on Kieran Foran as the veteran playmaker attempted a field goal in the final three minutes of extra time.
“I’ll be the first to say that we were ill-disciplined in parts, but my opinion, I thought the refereeing performance was pretty poor,” Hasler said.
“I think a lopsided penalty count, particularly in the area of 10 six-again [penalties] against the one.
“It just meant we were battling for field position the whole time. Some of that is our fault but the rest was difficult and that’s why it was heartbreaking.
“I have some doubt over the offside nature of the charge down. Did they review it? They didn’t review it. Why not?”
Raiders mentor Ricky Stuart was quick to jump to the defence of Badger, instead labelling the Titans’ defensive technique as “cheating”.
“If Des thinks they were hard done by Kasey tonight then he’s on a completely different planet,” Stuart said.
“The way they were in her face all night, I felt sorry for Kasey out there. She had to withstand a lot of pressure and she did a really good job tonight.
“The way they cheated by holding over the ball and on the ground, if we want to go back to previous years and hold on to the ball then we’ll start cheating too.
“We should have received another 10-12 six again calls. The game has been a good spectacle this season without the wrestle in the ruck.
“I’ll be sure to call Jared to see who is right or wrong there.”
MATCH REPORT: RAIDERS VS TITANS
Jamal Fogarty has extended the woes of his former club, proving the difference in the Canberra Raiders’ 21-20 golden point victory over the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday night.
Fogarty’s field goal in the final 12 seconds of golden point left the winless Titans heartbroken in their best performance of the season.
The Raiders survived an almighty comeback from the brave Titans, who scored two tries in the final four minutes of regulation time through winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
A sideline conversion from Brian Kelly, in just his second attempt at goal in his 152-game career, would send the game into overtime.
But it would be Fogarty, who was told by the Titans they were headed in a different direction at the end of the 2021 season, that would have the last laugh.
The Raiders bounced out to a 12-0 lead midway through the first half, though remarkably, and despite having only 25 per cent of possession for the first 50 minutes, the Titans hung tough and came within two points through tries to Jaimin Jolliffe and Harley Smith-Shields.
Raider James Schiller’s second try with 10 minutes remaining looked to have put an end to any prospective Titans comeback.
But the Titans didn’t quit and looked far more promising with veteran Keiran Foran and livewire AJ Brimson steering the ship.
GHOST OF HALFBACKS PAST
Oh how the Titans could do with Fogarty right now.
His clinical kicking game, particularly in the first half, was the stuff of nightmares for the opposition defence. On more than one occasion the Titans had no answers to Fogarty’s aerial raids.
Jamal Fogarty wins it in Golden Point 🙌
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Fogarty would eventually break the Gold Coast defence in the 18th minute when yet another pinpoint kick landed plum in the hands for Schiller’s first four-pointer. He’d also have a hand in Hudson Young’s try eight minutes later to extend the Raiders’ lead.
Fearing the impact his former teammate would continue to have on the game, Brian Kelly tried to take matters into his own hand early in the second half by taking out Fogarty while in the motion of kicking.
If only it had an effect.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Don’t let his age fool you. Chevy Stewart looked every bit the first grade player in his maiden NRL appearance.
On numerous occasions Stewart proved he wasn’t overawed by the occasion.
The 18-year-old was unfazed when on his first run in the top grade was smashed by Beau Fermor, while he almost came to blows with Titans five-eighth AJ Brimson on the stroke of half-time.
Solid without being spectacular, Stewart produced over 170 metres and was positionally sound out the back.
He would play a key role in the Raiders’ eventual win when he charged down a Kieran Foran field goal attempt from in front in the final three minutes of golden point.
Stewart now looks set for an extended run in the Raiders’ No. 1 jersey with Jordan Rapana (knee) still at least six weeks away.
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Originally published as NRL round six: Canberra Raiders defeat Gold Coast Titans 21-20, Ricky Stuart sounds off on Des Hasler for comments
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