Ricky Stuart rips into the bunker after controversial call in Raiders’ loss to Warriors

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has launched a scathing attack on the bunker, which he believes is “damaging the fabric” of rugby league.

Stuart’s comments came after the bunker advised the on-field referee to penalise Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh for a high tackle late in Saturday’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors.

The penalty allowed the Warriors to draw level by kicking for goal.

But closer inspection appeared to show that Horsburgh had not hit Matthew Lodge high and that the Warriors prop had played for the penalty.

With scores level, the game went into golden point, where the Warriors claimed victory on the back of a Shaun Johnson field goal.

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The NRL subsequently suspended the bunker official responsible for advising the referee to blow the penalty against Horsburgh.

Stuart was tight-lipped about the incident immediately after the game but on Thursday said it was further proof that the bunker’s role in the game needed to be assessed.

“It’s hard to get over those losses when it’s taken away from you the way it was, with some really poor bunker decisions,” Stuart said.

“I really believe that the bunker is getting it so wrong that we need to only have the bunker be involved in contentious tries.

“It’s just damaging the fabric and the way we want the game to be viewed.”

Stuart said if Lodge had truly suffered a head knock in the tackle, the bunker’s independent doctor would have ordered him from the field for a HIA.

“(Lodge) laid on the ground for a number of seconds after a so-called head shot and the bunker’s doctor didn’t even want any HIA protocols,” Stuart said.

“I really don’t understand how we can penalise Corey Horsburgh for that shot on Lodge where (Lodge) has even come out and said he faked it.

“We all knew he faked it. Everybody at the ground knew he faked it.”

Stuart said the decision was even more difficult to stomach given the Raiders’ lowly ladder position.

Canberra sits in 14th place with only two wins from eight games and can ill-afford to keep losing to bottom-eight sides like the Warriors.

“The situation that we’re in, we need as many two points as possibly can get,” he said

“To have (the win) taken away from us like that through a decision that I just don’t know how he got wrong is really disappointing.

“It’s annoying. It makes it more annoying when you lose games from it.”

The Raiders will hope to return to the winners circle when they host the Canterbury Bulldogs this Friday.

The match will be the first of the season for veteran centre Jarrod Croker, who has been playing reserve grade.

“Like the clubperson he is, the professional he is, he went back to NSW Cup and led by example,” Stuart said.

“He captained that team, led from the front and he’s played really well there. He deserves to get back and play at the NRL level. I’m as excited as Jarrod.”