Brain Explosion

For the past few weeks, we’ve been following the breadcrumbs as to whether Corey Horsburgh would be leaving the Raiders. The hope, for us at least, had been that it was just noise, and that the scuttlebutt getting passed around like Lucky’s Dad’s Rules was just that. Empty wrapping of a final present for the Milk.

But if Ricky Stuart’s post-game press conference is anything to go by, then the coming weeks may be Corey’s last in green.

You probably know what happened. You’re a handsome Raiders fan. You can’t help but know things and look good. But for those not paying attention, in the post-game press-scrum, Stick was asked his thoughts on Corey’s sin-binning at the end of the game. His answer was blunt:

It should have been 28-all. It was a brain explosion. I mean we got a penalty, it was a fucking brain explosion.

Stick continued:

We lost the start of the season because we were self-entitled and undisciplined. And we lost the opportunity to continue on and try to make the semis…

It wasn’t everybody’s fault. There were 16 other blokes there that made a massive effort. There was one bloody decision, choice, that’s cost us.

Corey, meet bus, have a look under there for us will you?

Look let’s start with the obvious. Stick is right. As much as I think that Dane Gagai should have been sin-binned for the spear tackle, or Corey is unfairly targeted and subject to disproportionate responses from officials, he simply had to be better in that moment. And as Stuart alludes, it’s not the first time a moment like this has come for Corey, and he’s failed the test.

We should also note that Stick speaking unvarnished truth here is probably nothing compared to what he said behind closed doors. And that Stick’s commentary about the game doesn’t actually have a link to contract discussions, noting that Corey is still contracted to Canberra for 2027, and not currently a free agent.

It also is exactly what a lot of Raiders’ fans would have been feeling in that moment. To see the side gifted a chance to tie the game up and keep their finals hopes alive dashed in a moment was beyond galling. And for many there was one person to blame.

But when that kind of stuff is being said in public, you’d forgive a man for drawing irresponsible conclusions. That’s not how we’d normally expect a coach to speak. Blasting players in the media isn’t how you build trust with a playing group. It’s not how you recruit people to your club. Those are ‘Monday morning review’ words. Those are private words. Those aren’t the words a coach says on main.

We know that Stick and Corey have always had a complicated relationship. They didn’t talk for most of 2024. More than once Corey has been all the way out the door only to be reeled back in. There’s always been hope.

But those comments struck me as those of a man who’s done with sparing Horsburgh’s feelings. Someone who’s tried accountability, an arm around the shoulder, and everything in between. Someone who looks at a 28-year-old who has played 130 games, who should be playing Origin and wondering why he’s making the decisions of a rookie.

It’s not a direct link as we said. It may be nothing. But when things feel tenuous, these moments become large. Maybe Stuart was just hurt and speaking without thinking. I mean he definitely was. But maybe it wasn’t just that.

Corey has played in the latter half of this year like someone with something else on his mind. We noted how gingerly he approached the line in Sunday’s game, how he seems to have lost any dynamism in his movements. We’ve seen a player that used to have some verve and vim become more plodder than pioneer.

I hope we’re drawing a far too long bow. I don’t think I’ll ever not believe in Corey. At the end of 2024 we said whoever gets him next will get a career year. Lucky for Canberra we got that in 2025. Now we proffer the same truism for next season. Whatever comes for the Red Horse, he’ll get it together.

But that’s the thing with Corey. He can get it together. For a bit, for a season. He can look fast. He can be smart, and hardworking, a creative player with an idiot’s face. But there’s something in him that just sneaks out. At some point teams are going to wonder why they’re spending big money for that.

It seems Coach Stuart is at that point.

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