Canberra Raiders beat New Zealand Warriors 16-10, brace for NRL judiciary carnage

Canberra’s gutsy victory over the high-flying Warriors in New Zealand could come at a cost with three key players put on report in the fiery encounter.

Ricky Stuart has leapt to the defence of his “aggressive” Raiders team despite two late brain snaps almost costing them a vital win over the Warriors.

The 16-10 victory will likely be a win of consequence for the Raiders, with skipper Joe Tapine and hooker Tom Starling facing nervous waits after being placed on report throughout.

For Tapine, two incidents will come under scrutiny after earning the ire of referee Adam Gee for a crusher tackle on Marata Niukore early on and a shoulder charge on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the final five minutes.

Starling made matters worse for the Raiders with the game on the line, after he was sin-binned for a high-flying charge at the head of a kicking Chanel Harris-Tavita.

But Stuart warned the game would be treading a fine line if they were to hand out suspensions in the aftermath of a brutal contest that was impacted by torrential conditions.

Joseph Tapine was inspirational in the win. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“We can’t discipline aggression. Our game and our broadcasters promote aggression. We must be real careful that we don’t scrutinise aggressive actions in a game that is moulded on pure aggression and passion,” Stuart said.

“I’m not promoting foul play, I’m dead against it. But there were a lot of accidental high shots and that’s all part of it, they’re penalties, but the match review committee can’t go out there and bash players for aggression because we need it in our game to maintain the entertainment.”

State of Origin may be kicking off this Wednesday, but the Australian Capital Territory could care little as the Raiders continued their winning ways across the ditch.

In spite of a first half riddled with ill-discipline, the Raiders did enough to hang on against a desperate Warriors outfit particularly in a frantic final two minutes sans Starling.

Ricky Stuart defended his players’ aggression. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The game looked lost to the Raiders early with the Warriors hellbent on joining the Bulldogs atop the NRL ladders, but the green machine would do enough to wrestle back the advantage.

Jamal Fogarty’s runaway try in the 64th minute coincided with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s own sin-bin and proved the difference by game’s end.

“We talk about resilience, but we were thrown into a scenario where we had to show what we practiced and speak about. Not once did I doubt their resilience or toughness because I know what’s deep under the jumper,” Stuart added.

HORSING AROUND

Of all the questions raised about Billy Slater’s Queensland team ahead of State of Origin I, the omission of Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh has been the most prevalent.

Amidst a career campaign, instead of donning a Maroons jersey for a second time, Horsburgh had to make do with Auckland’s big wet and looked every bit a player spurned.

It didn’t translate well early doors.

An error in the opening exchanges with his team deep in Warriors’ territory was compounded five minutes later when the prop was placed on report for a shot off the ball on Marata Niukore.

Corey Horsburgh spent time in the sin bin and was put on report for a late tackle. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

To make matters worse, Horsburgh was given his marching orders in the 28th minute. An innocuous penalty for holding down was the final straw for Gee with ill-discipline rife for the Raiders in the opening 40.

The second half was much better story for Horsburgh, with a crucial tackle in the dying stages preventing a late Warriors win.

Horsburgh could end up being Queensland’s loss after demonstrating once again to be Canberra’s gain.

Originally published as Canberra Raiders beat New Zealand Warriors 16-10, brace for NRL judiciary carnage