Canberra’s Tom Starling given one-week ban, captain Joe Tapine fined

There was mixed judiciary news for the Raiders after a fiery clash with the Warriors that included some controversial incidents.

Influential Raiders skipper Joseph Tapine has escaped a ban for a shoulder charge during Sunday’s win over the Warriors, but the news isn’t so good for teammate Tom Starling, who is facing a week out for a high tackle in the final few minutes.

Tapine was banned for two matches for a shoulder charge against the Warriors in Las Vegas earlier this year, but the superstar prop can pay a $3000 fine if he takes the early guilty plea for his grade 1 offence.

The Canberra captain risks a two-match ban if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary following a fiery clash across the ditch that also resulted in Corey Horsburgh and Jacob Laban being hit with fines by the match review committee.

Starling was slapped with a grade 2 dangerous contact charge for a high shot on Chanel Harris-Tavita after he kicked the ball late in the game, with the dummy-half sent to the sin bin.

Joseph Tapine (left) has escaped suspension. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Tapine was also placed on report for a crusher tackle early in the contest but wasn’t charged, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart warning the NRL after the match to not punish players for being aggressive.

“We have to be careful that we don’t go and want to scrutinise aggressive actions in a game that is moulded on pure aggression and passion,” he said.

“On Wednesday night, we’ve got one of the most special games in our calendar happening and it has created its profile and culture and passion, Origin, through aggression.

“And I’m not at all promoting foul play, I’m dead against foul play. I’ve said before you will get a lot of accidental high shots with the speed and intensity of our game and that’s a part of it now, penalty given, I get that, that’s fine.

“I’m not promoting foul play but don’t go penalising, and I don’t mean penalising out there but with match review committees, we can’t just go willy-nilly bashing players for aggression because you need them in our game.

“We can’t keep calling ourselves an entertaining game and get the broadcasters’ money. Well, aggression is a big part of it.”