Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart has moved to clear up widespread speculation around his relationship with forward Corey Horsburgh, explaining the decision to drop the fiery prop from this weekend’s squad following a costly on-field outburst against the Newcastle Knights last week.
Last round, Horsburgh was issued a sin bin after lashing out at Knights veteran Dane Gagai, a moment of poor discipline that overturned a penalty that would have leveled the score for Canberra as the club fights to secure a spot in the NRL finals. The incident not only earned the forward a fine from the NRL’s match review committee but also a post-match reprimand from Stuart, who ultimately left Horsburgh out of the line-up to face the Cronulla Sharks this Saturday.
Following the loss to the Knights, Stuart did not mince words when criticizing the mistake, noting that the ill-timed error had cost Canberra a critical opportunity to keep their semi-finals push on track. He added that the team had already paid for poor discipline and a sense of entitlement earlier in the season, emphasizing that 16 other players had put in massive effort only for one poor decision to undermine their work.
Speaking publicly on Friday morning, Stuart addressed the growing rumors around Horsburgh – including widespread reports that the prop is on the verge of signing a deal with new expansion franchise the Perth Bears, who are set to enter the NRL competition in 2028. The veteran coach pushed back hard on claims the incident had created a permanent rift between him and the forward, stressing that his relationship with Horsburgh remains unchanged.
“I decided to give him a rest. I spoke to Corey about that, and he was comfortable,” Stuart told reporters. “Not from my point of view, and not from my couple of chats with Corey would I say that our relationship has changed. Corey knows I like Corey. There is no one who could say that I dislike Corey because I don’t. I’ve worked with Corey for a long time and I can’t strongly enough say that there is no ill feeling from myself towards Corey. I’ve been comfortable talking to Corey this week and explaining the situation.”
Horsburgh is not the only Raiders forward linked with a move to an incoming expansion side. Representative star Hudson Young has been heavily linked with the PNG-based expansion franchise the Chiefs, who have already locked in high-profile signings including Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o ahead of their 2028 debut. Young would be a marquee addition for the new club, with Canberra openly working to retain his services for the long term. When asked about the transfer rumors on Friday, Stuart dismissed the speculation, saying he is only focused on preparing for this weekend’s match against the Sharks.