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Rowdy Raiders duo cast negative light on 2025 Las Vegas showcase
Charles Goodsir • February 25th, 2025 12:56 pm
The 2025 Las Vegas season opener has hit a sour note with Canberra Raiders duo Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies involved in an elevator scuffle which saw the pair evicted from the team’s hotel.
Young and Smithies returned to Resorts World hotel where the Raiders are staying only to find one of them was unable to access their room. Frustrated with being locked out of a room, the two then reportedly fought in an elevator with an inflatable bat.
Security allegedly mistook the bat for a weapon and removed the pair from the hotel to diffuse the situation before both Smithies and Young were allowed back on the premises.
Young and Smithies fronted the media the following day and apologised for their actions. SEN’s Andrew Voss acknowledged that the optics weren’t great from Canberra but believed this was a minor incident that should be quickly forgotten.
“Rugby league truly is the sport that keeps on delivering,” Voss declared on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I can’t take this story seriously. I’m sorry. I’m not dismissing this as boys being boys because they are adults.
“They are representing a lot of people here because it’s the game on the international stage.
“I know Canberra have to take action and they have (but) this is just the world of rugby league.
“The inflatable bat is now a merchandise opportunity just screaming at them. Everyone will now need one.
“They’ve fronted the media but I really don’t think there is much more to be done.
“If other people were affected by this and if there is damage to property then it’s a problem.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio echoed Voss’ statements surrounding the players’ responsibility as ambassadors of the game.
Despite the soft nature of what was committed, Riccio lauded the Raiders for how they have impeccably handled the incident.
“The eyes of the rugby leage world are on these players,” Riccio told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“It’s a story but it's not the biggest crime in the world.
“(It’s because) we are days out from the season opener which makes this a big story.
“It will raise debate on the experiment and the NRL’s odyssey into the US.
“I do like how Canberra has handled this. It’s been a masterclass in crisis management.
“They reported it to the integrity unit immediately. They got the players to front a press conference (and) they have not ducked away from this.”
This incident is an unwanted distraction for the Raiders, just days out before the season opener against the Warriors on Sunday.
Channel Nine’s Danny Weidler told SEN that internally, coach Ricky Stuart is furious with the players involved in the scuffle.
“Ricky is fuming,” Weidler said on SEN 1170.
“He knows it’s not the biggest incident in the world but he didn’t want any incidents coming from his players.”
