AAA<\/p>\n
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has lambasted the NRL\u2019s officiating, saying he\u2019s never been so confused about the rules after controversial calls overshadowed the Dolphins 30-22 victory against Canberra.<\/p>\n
In a fiery two-minute press conference, where Stuart didn\u2019t answer any questions, the coach took aim at the referees and bunker after a series of 50\/50 calls fell the visitors\u2019 way on Thursday night at GIO Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Most significantly, a second-half call where Joe Tapine and Morgan Smithies made a big tackle on Ray Stone was ruled a penalty by Todd Smith, with the referee saying Smithies made \u201cunnecessary contact\u201d with his elbow.<\/p>\n
The Canberra faithful erupted in boos as Jamayne Isaako slotted a crucial penalty goal before doubling down in heckling the officials as they walked off the field after the full-time whistle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game has interpretations and rules, and we\u2019re in a position at the moment where we\u2019re picking and choosing when we apply them, and it\u2019s a very frustrating situation for those who are involved,\u201d Stuart said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn all the years I\u2019ve been involved in the game as a coach, I\u2019ve never been so confused. It\u2019s disappointing, to say the least, but I\u2019m just so confused at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t have a rule and apply it one week and not the next week … it\u2019s disappointing because I love the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jamayne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8ba7d8fa94d5d838f38cb8daa1e63bc9db4b516d.jpeg\")
Jamayne Isaako scores a try for the Dolphins.Getty Images<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just the contentious calls that made the difference on the night though, as Canberra\u2019s ill-discipline, most notably two dropped balls by winger Savelio Tamale, led to two costly first-half Dolphins tries.<\/p>\n
Regardless, the visitors\u2019 coach Kristian Woolf was elated his side held tough, praising their rigid defence and mentality as they picked up a fourth-straight win for the first time in club history.<\/p>\n
Related Article \u201cThere\u2019s always 50\/50 calls. There\u2019s always things that you feel go against you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a couple in the second half there that I thought probably had gone our way that made a bit of a difference, but that\u2019s every game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t stop you from scoring tries … I\u2019m just happy that we got the win.\u201d<\/p>\n The gritty victory came as the Dolphins were without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler and Max Plath because of State of Origin duties<\/a>, while star centre Herbie Farnworth (hamstring tightness) and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (hamstring) were also missing.<\/p>\n The Raiders scored first through Jed Stuart, but Tamale dropped Isaiya Katoa\u2019s booming kick, and the visitors capitalised through Cobbo\u2019s replacement, Tevita Naufahu.<\/p>\n Canberra hit back when Ethan Sanders sent up a kick, and it took an awkward bounce, then hit the crossbar into Corey Horsburgh\u2019s hands for a try.<\/p>\n But the visitors scored the next three through Morgan Knowles, Isaako, and Stone before Tamale crossed right before the break to reduce the deficit to 22-16 at halftime.<\/p>\n After Isaako\u2019s penalty goal, Zac Hosking pounced on a Laurie grubber in the 65th minute before Schneider wrestled through Canberra\u2019s fatigued defence to seal the victory.<\/p>\n AAP<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Rabbitohs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/14d304bab52676a654a418dd7f3658a7d99217e9.jpeg\")
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