Roosters coach Trent Robinson and Raiders skipper Elliott Whitehead have had an explosive run in following Canberra’s upset 14-12 win at Allianz Stadium.
It was a game marred by injury, with the Roosters losing four players throughout the dramatic 80 minutes.
In addition to star half Sam Walker, one of those four was hooker Brandon Smith, who picked up a knee injury when he was the victim of a hip drop tackle by Whitehead.
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Whitehead binned TWICE in one game | 00:53
The Raiders captain was sin binned for the tackle, which left Smith writhing in pain on the ground before being assisted off just before halftime.
Whitehead would later be sin binned for the second time of the game for lashing out with his boot to stop a offload and contacting Angus Crichton.
“It doesn’t look good,” Robinson said of Smith’s injury.
The interaction between Robinson and Whitehead was raised by the Raiders veteran in Canberra’s post-match press conference, which was before the Roosters’.
Whitehead was asked about the two sin bins, to which he replied, “OK, I’ll talk about it.”
“Obviously I didn’t mean to (hurt) Brandon. I know he’s come up with a bad injury and I’m sorry to him for that, but I just wasn’t happy for the way I went up to ask about Brandon and apologise and Trent Robinson has had a go at me and turned on me,” Whitehead said.
“The way he did that, I thought it was out of order.
“I don’t know what he said in his media if he’s done if he’s yet but yeah look, I’m sorry to Brandon.
“Regarding the other sin bin, I don’t know if you know the rules or if I don’t know the rules, I was trying to stop an offload. I didn’t strike him in any malicious way but whatever, I don’t care.”
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Robinson was then asked about the conversation with Whitehead, confirming what was said between the pair and sensationally accusing the Canberra captain of commonly making hip drop tackles.
“He came up and wanted to ask how Brandon was, and I just said it’s too many times,” Robinson said.
“The hip drop has been pretty common in his game for a long time and I just said it’s too many times and that it’s cost us a player. That was it.
“He said it was an accident and I said well it’s too many times.
When Robinson was asked to clarify if he meant Whitehead had done too many hip drops in his career, the Roosters coach doubled down.
“Yeah. He’s done it a lot in his career, so it’s been pretty common if you go and have a look,” he said.
“I like Elliott. I’ve watched him since he played for Bradford and Catalans but it’s been pretty common.
“I know he’s opened it up here which is why we’re talking about it and I wouldn’t want to usually talk to you guys about it but he opened it up and it’s been really common in his game his whole career.”
Source Agencies
