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Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh apologised on Instagram for the disrespectful act of chewing gum and blowing a bubble while The Last Post was being played during Anzac Round.
Horsburgh claimed it was an honest mistake in a post on Instagram after he was widely condemned for his actions during the solemn moment before Canberra’s clash with the Panthers at Penrith on Sunday.
“Just wanted to post message to say I’m sorry if I offended anyone on the weekend during the ANZAC day ceremony before our game against the Panthers. It was an honest mistake and in no way did I mean to cause offence to anyone,” he wrote.
“I always chew gum before a game and completely forgot it was still in my mouth before I ran out. I have the deepest respect for the ANZAC day tradition and it was an honour to be involved in the game on Sunday.”
Horsburgh’s Raiders are in the midst of a form slump and are second-last with a 2-5 record following their 36-6 mauling at the hands of the Panthers.
They have a chance to get their season back on track when they travel to Redcliffe this Saturday to take on the Warriors who are coming off a 60-point thrashing in Melbourne.
Tom Gilbert lining up for the Cowboys. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The Dolphins have added to their forwards depth but remain on the hunt for a seasoned playmaker ahead of their 2023 NRL debut.
The Redcliffe-based club confirmed 21-year-old Tom Gilbert would leave North Queensland to return home to Brisbane, where he starred as a teenager with Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.
The Cowboys edge or middle forward, who was the Q Cup’s rookie and lock of the year in 2019, joins experienced forwards Felise Kaufusi, Ray Stone, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich at the new club from next season.
“This is the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my life, which is why it has taken me this long,” Gilbert said. “I’ve been sitting on this for about four months, but it’s time for me to go home and be with my family – they need me.
“It means I’m leaving a club that I love, but supporting my family will always come first.”
Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins are devoid of playmaking options and still without a marquee man though.
Retired Queensland great Cameron Smith declared during the week “the panic button is pretty close to being pushed” after Kalyn Ponga joined Reed Mahoney, Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes in signing elsewhere.
They remain in the hunt for Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster, however the Queensland State of Origin star is contracted at the Storm until the end of the 2023 season.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy says star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen can’t do anything more to prove he’s ready for the State of Origin arena.
Papenhuyzen claimed the Anzac Medal for his stand-out performance in his team’s 70-10 thrashing of the Warriors on Monday night in Melbourne.
The 23-year-old is already on the radar of NSW selectors, who picked him in the squad for the end of year series in 2020.
He was tipped to land the bench utility role after a sensational grand final performance which earned him the Clive Churchill Medal, but was ruled out before the first game with a calf injury.
Last year he was sidelined through the series with debilitating concussion symptoms after a severe head knock in Magic Round.
While incumbent fullback and NSW skipper James Tedesco can’t be dislodged, Bellamy plumped for Papenhuyzen to get a call-up again.
“I’d love to see him in there and I think he deserves to be there,” Bellamy said.
“Tedesco has been one hell of a player for NSW and we’re aware of how many great fullbacks we’ve got eligible to play for NSW.
“It’s up to the selectors but the one thing I will say is that he can’t do any more than what he’s doing to keep knocking on the door.
“And hopefully he’ll get a start there at some stage.”
Papenhuyzen said he hadn’t thought too much about Origin selection and was focused on doing his best for the Storm.
“I’m at a pretty special club here where you feel valued, regardless of whatever teams you make and that’s what I’m pretty grateful for,” he said.
“I haven’t really thought too much about Origin to be fair, and it’s probably a good thing.
“You play good footy and you get picked in those sides, but I’m in a good footy team at the moment and valued here and love this team so that’s what I’m focusing on.”
Papenhuyzen spent 10 weeks of the 2021 season on the sidelines with concussion symptoms and a neck injury and said putting on more weight in the off-season had helped with his confidence.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Manly are facing a problem over Josh Schuster’s desire to play five-eighth with veteran Kieran Foran potentially in the firing line.
Schuster’s management, according to Nine reporter Danny Weidler on 100% Footy, was promised by the previous CEO Stephen Humphreys that he would get a chance to play in his preferred position rather than second row.
Foran was preferred at five-eighth last year with Schuster enjoying a fine season as an edge forward. Schuster has not played this season because of a pre-season ankle injury and is due to return soon.
With bench utility Dylan Walker joining the Warriors next year, Schuster could switch to the halves, relegating Foran to the bench. Foran is off contract at the end of the season but the veteran Kiwi is keen to play on in 2023.
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