The National Rugby League’s (NRL) match review committee has handed down controversial charges that have upended two clubs’ late-season campaigns, with Canberra Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh headlining the sanctions after a reckless act that ended his side’s shot at 2024 finals football.
Horsburgh was charged with a Grade 1 contrary conduct offence following a unprovoked slap to Newcastle Knights winger Dane Gagai during Sunday’s crucial clash. The moment came at a pivotal juncture for the Raiders: with the team trailing by just two points, officials had just awarded Canberra a penalty within striking distance of the posts, only to reverse the decision after spotting Horsburgh’s slap. The forward was sin-binned for the infraction, a costly exclusion that ultimately derailed the Raiders’ comeback.
If Horsburgh accepts the early guilty plea, he will only face an AU$1800 fine, avoiding a suspension that would have ended his season outright. But the damage to the club’s finals hopes, and to his standing with head coach Ricky Stuart, is already done. After the match, Stuart launched a scathing rebuke of his forward’s lapse in judgment, laying bare the cost of the mistake.
“It should have been 28-all, and there’s a brain explosion when we got a penalty,” Stuart told reporters post-game. “It was a f–king brain explosion and we lost the opportunity. We lost the start of the season because we were self-entitled and undisciplined and we lost the opportunity to still then continue and try to make the semis. It wasn’t everybody’s fault. There are 16 other blokes there that made a lot of massive effort. There’s one sh*t bloody decision choice that has cost us.”
The incident has reignited off-season transfer speculation around Horsburgh, who has been heavily linked with a move to the Brisbane Broncos in recent weeks. Rugby league analysts are now waiting to see if Stuart’s anger over the blunder will accelerate the forward’s exit from the Canberra outfit ahead of the 2025 season.
In a separate blow to another NRL side, Cronulla Sharks enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake has also been sanctioned for a dangerous play during the Sharks’ shock upset loss to St. George Illawarra Dragons. Fonua-Blake was charged with a Grade 2 careless high tackle for a hit on Dragons player Hamish Stewart, which also earned him a sin bin during the match. If he accepts the early guilty plea offer, the front-rower will serve a one-match suspension, forcing him to miss Cronulla’s upcoming clash against the Raiders this coming Saturday. The absence of their starting enforcer is a fresh setback for the Sharks, who are already fighting to secure their own place in the 2024 finals series.