Round 14 Teams: Raiders cop backlash over controversial Croker call, seven players charged

Canberra’s decision to rest captain Jarrod Croker from this Friday’s trip to Campbelltown is dividing opinion but coach Ricky Stuart is adamant he’s not disrespecting the Wests Tigers.

Stuart admitted the club wanted him to bring up his 300-game milestone the following week in a home game against the Warriors.

There has been plenty of backlash to the controversial decision but Stuart said Croker’s workloads also needed to be managed with the veteran centre in the midst of a comeback season following a couple of years experiencing a wretched run with injuries.

He claimed this has been planned for weeks and the medical staff think he will benefit from having a game off.

Jarrod Croker. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

“It’s not Jarrod’s call, he’s happy to do whatever is best for the team,” Stuart said. “(But) I believe Jarrod deserves it and I believe all our fans, who are so loyal to us, they deserve to be at GIO and see him play live. It’s definitely not disrespectful to the Tigers.”

Fox League expert Cooper Cronk was adamant Croker should be playing. 

“You scrap, you fight and you claw and the Raiders have done that to get their season back on track, winning the big bulk of games when Jarrod has been there and that whole character ‘we are in it together’ mantra, runs through no matter what game you play.

“A wise old man once said, don’t count your games, make your games count.”

Canberra forward Corey Harawira-Naera also won’t be suiting up on Friday but is hoping to return to the field as soon as possible after being discharged from hospital on Sunday following his mid-game seizure.

Harawira-Naera says he is “on the mend” but “not in the clear yet” and will undergo further tests to get to the bottom of the frightening incident at Accor Stadium.

Shortly after taking a hit-up in the second half against South Sydney on Saturday night, Harawira-Naera appeared to become disoriented, fell to the turf and started convulsing.

“I’m back on the mend, not in the clear yet but we’ll get some more scans and sort it out,” Harawira-Naera said. “Health comes first but I’m obviously hoping to get back on the field as soon as possible as well.”

Raiders winger Nick Cotric is set to pay a $3000 fine for a shoulder charge against Souths rather than risk a two-game ban by challenging the judiciary.

Rabbitohs fullback Blake Taaffe ($1000-$1500 for a high tackle), Broncos prop Xavier Willison ($1000-$1500 for dangerous contact), Dragons stand-in skipper Jack de Belin ($1800-$2500 for a cannonball tackle) and Dolphins veteran Kodi Nikorima ($1800-$2500 for a high tackle) have also avoided bans despite being charged.

Taaffe avoiding suspension for his hit on Raiders winger Jordan Rapana is a relief for the Bunnies given that Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out of Origin with a calf strain so he is unlikely to be available this weekend.

Manly centre Tolu Koula ($1000-$1500 for a high shot on Kalyn Ponga) and Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland ($1800-$2500 for dangerous contact) were also fined in the only two charges from Sunday’s games.

Brent Naden. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Round 14 teams

Tigers vs Raiders, at Campbelltown Sport Stadium – 8pm, Friday, June 2

Tigers: Brent Naden is available for selection again after serving a three-game ban for a shoulder charge which stretched out to four weeks after the bye last round.

Raiders: Jarrod Croker will be rested so Nick Cotric, Xavier Savage or Harley Smith-Shields is a chance to come into the starting side out wide.

Cotric is set to pay a $3000 fine for a shoulder charge against Souths rather than risk a two-game ban by challenging the judiciary.

Corey Harawira-Naera will be sidelined for an indefinite period after suffering an on-field seizure against the Rabbitohs but the Raiders should have Hudson Young back from his NSW debut in the second row.

Warriors vs Dolphins, at Go Media Stadium – 3pm, Saturday, June 3

Warriors: Wayde Egan (calf) is due back with Freddy Lussick (head knock) likely to make way at hooker.

Veteran forward Mitch Barnett has been out with a neck injury since Round 3 but the club is hopeful he will be back this weekend.

Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert will resume their spots assuming they don’t get injured while representing Queensland, with Kodi Nikorima likely to return to the bench utility role and Valynce Te Whare to drop out of the game-day 17 after he received only a couple of minutes in the win over the Dragons.

Titans vs Rabbitohs, at Cbus Super Stadium – 5.30pm, Saturday, June 3

Titans: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita will try to line up for club duty after their Origin clash while hooker Sam Verrills is closing in on a return from the broken collarbone he suffered early in the season.

Rabbitohs: Blake Taaffe avoided a suspension for a high tackle and is now set to retain his spot at fullback with Latrell Mitchell injured before Origin. Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow will square off in Origin.

Campbell Graham (sternum) was close to playing last weekend against the Raiders so he should return to the centres with Jed Cartwright going back to the bench.

Front-rower Tom Burgess (back) is likely to remain out but Davvy Moale (knee) could be good to go. 

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Sharks vs Broncos, at PointsBet Stadium – 7.35pm, Saturday, June 3

Sharks: Nicho Hynes is Cronulla’s only Origin rep while centre Siosifa Talakai (neck) should be right to return after missing the past two club matches before the bye.

Broncos: Kevin Walters will make a call later in the week on Origin reps Payne Haas, Tom Flegler, Patrick Carrigan, Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo. 

Keenan Palasia, Tristan Sailor and Deine Mariner stepped up in particular in their absence last Saturday in the win over the Warriors.

Roosters vs Bulldogs, at Industree Group Stadium – 2pm, Sunday, June 4

Roosters: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (pec strain), Joey Manu (ankle) and Daniel Tupou (hamstring) are on track for comebacks but halfback Sam Walker (knee) is another couple of weeks away.

Bulldogs: Second-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner sat out the 20-18 last-start win over the Titans with an illness so he will bolster the pack against the Roosters.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 15: Jason Taumalolo of the Cowboys charges forward during the round seven NRL match between New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys at Mt Smart Stadium on April 15, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)

Jason Taumalolo. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)

Cowboys vs Storm, at QCB Stadium – 4.05pm, Sunday, June 4

Cowboys: Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Tom Dearden will look to back up from Origin midweek while Jason Taumalolo should be right to return from knee surgery after he was named on the extended bench last week. Jeremiah Nanai is also back after he has served his four-game hip-drop ban.

Storm: Cameron Munster and Harry Grant are their only Origin concerns while Christian Welch is a Maroons reserve. 

Eliesa Katoa (shoulder), Alec MacDonald (elbow) and George Jennings (hamstring) are maybes this week.

Panthers vs Dragons, at BlueBet Stadium – 6.15pm, Sunday, June 4

Panthers: Ivan Cleary could rest a few of his Origin stars with Isaah Yeo, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and now Stephen Crichton playing for NSW.

Izack Tago (pectoral), Spencer Leniu (ruptured testicle) and Matt Eisenhuth (shoulder) are close to making returns from injury.

Dragons: Ben Hunt will be back from Maroons duty to regain the captaincy from Jack de Belin, who was sin-binned in his controversial debut as skipper last week.

Front-rower Blake Lawrie (hand) is likely to be out a few weeks while Jaydn Su’A (hamstring) is a chance to play this week.

Bye – Eels, Knights, Sea Eagles

with AAP



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