We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says it's the clubs not the NRL who should decide whether players back up from State of Origin and their stand-down proposal was disrespectful towards coaches.
The NRL and Rugby League Players' Association were reportedly in discussions over forcing players to be stood down in the round immediately after Origin.
That would mean Raiders and Queensland prop Josh Papalii wouldn't be allowed to play the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne on Sunday.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says a blanket ban on State of Origin representatives backing up for their clubs the following round disrespects the care coaches have for their players.
The Rugby League Players Association is reportedly pushing for a mandatory stand-down rule after Origin matches to be included in the next collective bargaining agreement, with some players from Wednesday night’s epic decider expected to back up on Friday.
But Stuart, a former NSW player and coach, said he would...
Canberra Raiders prop Joe Tapine hopes Jarome Luai didn't know Selwyn Cobbo was unconscious when he was standing over him and taunting in the State of Origin decider - because that would've been "pretty harsh".
Tapine said he would've reacted exactly the same way his Raiders teammate Josh Papalii did - the Queensland enforcer was one of the first to confront Luai for his abuse of a prone Cobbo.
The Queensland winger was stretchered from the field and played no further part in the game.