Canberra Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh has been handed a three-match suspension for his shoulder charge on Brisbane’s Corey Jensen during Saturday evening’s contest at GIO Stadium.
The incident came in the 79th minute of Canberra’s 29-18 loss to the Broncos, with Horsburgh pinged for a grade one shoulder charge by the NRL’s match review committee on Sunday morning.
He was not penalised at the time, but Horsburgh will now be sidelined for three weeks with a guilty plea or four weeks if he fights the charge and loses.
A three-week suspension would rule him out until the preliminary finals – should the Raiders make it to that stage.
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Meanwhile, Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has copped a one-match suspension for his ugly shot on Canberra veteran Jordan Rapana.
The 24-year-old was put on report in the 17th minute when he continued a tackle after the ball was offloaded, making contact with Rapana’s head.
Legendary Bronco Corey Parker said after the game: “He clenches the fist and he absolutely makes contact with Rapana… we’ve seen what unfolds when you do go to the judiciary.
“But he did not need to do that, it comes from frustration. Kotoni Staggs could find himself in a spot of bother.”
He is now set to miss their final regular-season match against the Storm, a significant blow as the Broncos look to secure the minor premiership.
Elsewhere, Raiders stars Zac Woolford and Jordan Rapana have copped fines for a crusher tackle and dangerous contact respectively, with Rapana sin-binned during the match.
It comes after Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was handed a massive six-game ban for two separate incidents during his side’s victory over the Wests Tigers. Meanwhile, Sydney teammate Luke Keary was fined $2500 for a dangerous throw on Tigers lock John Bateman.
