Canberra Raiders NRL News

NRL's Andrew Abdo anticipates fewer sin bins at Magic Round, easing bunker intervention concerns.

Fox League

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo isn't worried that last week's high tackle drama will dominate the headlines at Magic Round, with a directive for the bunker to get involved less frequently set to lead to fewer sin bins in Brisbane.

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There were 18 sin bins in a chaotic round 8, with fans frustrated by bunker intervention for minor offences where the game would be paused and players would be marched for incidents that had occurred a minute earlier.

Foul play has been a hot topic this year, with data showing high tackles have been on the rise, leading to a whopping $104,650 in fines being handed out, while players have missed a combined 54 weeks through suspension.

Abdo is confident players won't stay down in a bid to get the bunker involved this weekend, with the game's boss backing the on-field action to dominate the headlines after a crackdown overshadowed Magic Round four years ago.

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Corey Parker and Ricky Stuart embody rugby league's best heel-face dynamic, sparking locker room motivation and criticism.

The Canberra Times

Corey Parker and Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart might be the best heel and face combo in rugby league history.

For those unaware, in wrestling terms the "heel" refers to the bad guy, and the "face" is the hero character, but which category Parker and Stuart fall into might depend on who you talk to though.

Parker became bulletin board material in the Raiders locker room last year when a column he wrote ranked the Green Machine outside the top eight, he criticised their "modestly-talented" playing group, and took a shot at Canberra as a place no-one would want to live, which made recruitment of NRL stars tougher.

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NRL's Magic Round ends with Melbourne Storm facing Canberra Raiders in an exciting clash.

League Unlimited

The NRL's sixth Magic Round comes to a close on Sunday night with an unexpected heavyweight clash pitting the second-placed Melbourne Storm against the third-placed Canberra Raiders.

Facing off on neutral ground as part of the league's annual pilgrimage to Suncorp Stadium, both teams have impressed with just two losses apiece over the opening eight rounds.  

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