Fiery Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh has been dramatically dropped for Saturday’s away game against Cronulla at Ocean Protect Stadium.
The Raiders claim Horsburgh has been rested after a controversial performance against Newcastle last weekend.
Horsburgh won’t play NSW Cup this weekend.
Ata Mariota will be Horsburgh’s replacement at starting prop against the Sharks.
It is unknown whether Horsburgh will be considered for NRL selection in Canberra’s round 25 game against Brisbane.
Horsburgh’s omission is another clear sign that he and the club are at loggerheads.
His demise is the culmination of a difficult week after Horsburgh drew sharp criticism for a “brain explosion” at a pivotal moment in Canberra’s loss to the Knights.
Horsburgh was sin binned for slapping opponent Dane Gagai nearing fulltime in the Raiders’ 30-24 loss, which ended the club’s finals hopes.
Stuart singled out Horsburgh for criticism at a post-match press conference.
“It was a f***ing brain explosion and (we) lost the opportunity,” Stuart fumed.
The pair have been getting along well in recent times while enjoying or enduring a rollercoaster relationship over the past eight years.
This masthead can confirm that Canberra would be prepared to offload Horsburgh early if he can secure another NRL club.
A former Queensland State of Origin player, Horsburgh comes off contract at Canberra after next season.
Caboolture-born Horsburgh, 28, would prefer a return to Queensland but Perth is also monitoring the situation.
The Bears are also ready to make a move on Horsburgh.
Brisbane has been gently linked to Horsburgh but the Broncos’ star-studded roster may prevent an offer being lodged.
But there was speculation on Tuesday that Horsburgh could join Brisbane as early as next season.
Ill-discipline has cost Canberra this season with last year’s minor premiers sitting in the 12th spot with nine wins from 21 games.
Canberra’s finals round games are against Cronulla, Brisbane and North Queensland.
—Dean Ritchie
SEASON OVER FOR EELS STAR
Parramatta’s Isaiah Iongi’s season is over with the young fullback ruled out with a knee injury.
Iongi suffered a medial and posterior knee injury but has avoided rupturing his ACL which would have been a nine month recovery.
The injury will sideline him for four to six weeks but it means he won’t play another minute for the Eels this year.
NRL ROUND 24 TEAMS
PANTHERS V ROOSTERS
Thursday August 13, 7:50pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Panthers
1. Jaxen Edgar 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Izack Tago 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Liam Henry 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Lindsay Smith
Interchange: 14. Billy Scott 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Luron Patea 17. Billy Phillips 18. Jack Cole 19. Blaize Talagi
Reserves: 20. Dylan Edwards 21. Jesse McLean 22. Kalani Leuluai-going
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Billy Smith 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley
Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Nat Butcher 17. Egan Butcher 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Tommy Talau
Reserves: 20. Rex Bassingthwaighte 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Taylor Losalu
SEA EAGLES V DOLPHINS
Friday August 14, 6pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Sea Eagles
1. Clayton Faulalo 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Joey Walsh 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Simione Laiafi 9. Brandon Wakeham 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Nicholas Lenaz 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Jackson Shereb 18. Josh Feledy 19. Hugo Hart
Reserves: 20. Onitoni Large 21. Caleb Navale 22. Blake Wilson
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange: 14. Max Plath 15. Ray Stone 16. Tom Gilbert 17. Felise Kaufusi 18. Brad Schneider 19. Jake Averillo
Reserves: 20. Sebastian Su’a 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu
BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS
Friday August 14, 8pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Matt Burton 4. Enari Tuala 5. Jethro Rinakama 6. Stephen Crichton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Harry Hayes 17. Alekolasimi Jones 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Jake Turpin
Reserves: 21. Jack Underhill 22. Sean O’Sullivan 23. Jonathan Sua
Rabbitohs
1. Matthew Dufty 2. Alex Johnston 3. Tallis Duncan 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Adam Elliott 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Jye Gray 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Euan Aitken 18. Peter Mamouzelos 19. Edward Kosi
Reserves: 20. Jonah Glover 21. Liam Le Blanc 22. John Radel
SHARKS V RAIDERS
Saturday August 15, 3pm, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange: 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Billy Burns 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Michael Gabrael 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele
Reserves:20. Niwhai Puru 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Savelio Tamale 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Ata Mariota 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Zac Hosking 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies
Interchange: 14. Tom Starling 15. Joseph Roddy 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Daine Laurie 18. Vena Patuki-Case 19. Sebastian Kris
Reserves: 20. Coby Black 21. Sione Finau 22. Jordan Uta
EELS V COWBOYS
Saturday August 15, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Eels
1. Apa Twidle 2. Brian Kelly 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Saxon Pryke 16. Teancum Brown 17. Jezaiah Funa-luta 18. Toni Mataele 19. Sean Russell
Reserves: 20. Kelma Tuilagi 21. Harrison Edwards 22. Ryley Smith
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Tom Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Jaxon Purdue 8. Griffin Neame 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter
Interchange: 14. Soni Luke 15. Tom Mikaele 16. John Bateman 17. Coen Hess 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Ethan King
Reserves: 20. Kaiden Lahrs 21. Mason Kira 22. Liam Sutton
BRONCOS V WARRIORS
Saturday August 15, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Grant Anderson 6. Ezra Mam 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Xavier Willison 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11.Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan
Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Jack Gosiewski 17.Va’a Semu 18. Blake Mozer 19. Ben Talty
Reserves: 20. Gehamat Shibasaki 22. Jesse Arthars 23. Hayze Perham
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Leka Halasima 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 18. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Adam Pompey
Reserves:21. Morgan Gannon 22. Luke Hanson 23. Makaia Tafua
KNIGHTS V TITANS
Sunday August 16, 2pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Cody Hopwood 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Lachlan Crouch 17. Thomas Cant 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Pasami Saulo
Reserves: 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Diesel Hagan 22. Toby Winter
Titans
1. Keano Kini 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Josh Patston 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall
Interchange: 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Klese Haas 16. Cooper Bai 17. Bodhi Sharpley 18. Sam Verrills 19. Jaylan De Groot
Reserves: 20. Arama Hau 21. Sialetili Faeamani 22. Jett Liu
WESTS TIGERS V DRAGONS
Sunday August 16, 4:05pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Junior Tupou 3. Solomane Saukuru 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Sunia Turuva 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Alex Twal
Interchange: 14. Heath Mason 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Tristan Hope 19. Faaletino Tavana
Reserves: 20. Ethan Roberts 21. Javon Andrews 22. Charlie Murray
Dragons
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Ryan Couchman
Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Toby Couchman 16. Jacob Halangahu 17. Jacob Webster 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mathew Feagai
Reserves: 20. Josh Kerr 21. Blake Lawrie 22. Christian Tuipulotu
BYE: Melbourne Storm