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Sport Nation
Tapine walks free, Starling faces ban after heated Warriors clash
George Clarke, AAP • May 26th, 2025 2:00 pm
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Canberra hooker Tom Starling is facing a one-game ban as Raiders captain Joseph Tapine escaped suspension for two reportable incidents in his side's gutsy win over the Warriors.
Tapine has avoided a ban and will be free to face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday after being placed on report twice by referee Adam Gee in Canberra's 16-10 victory over the Warriors.
The New Zealand Test forward was not even charged for a crusher tackle on Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in Sunday's win, but was slugged with a $3000 fine for a grade-one shoulder charge on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh was also handed a $1800 fine after being charged for dangerous contact.
Raiders' Tom Starling faces a one-game ban over a grade-two dangerous contact charge | Photo: Brett Phibbs/AAP
There was no such luck for Starling, however, with the hooker hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge for a high shot on Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita in the 77th minute.
Starling was sin-binned at the time and will miss just one game if he pleads guilty.
The absence of the No.9 will likely bring journeyman Danny Levi into second-placed Canberra's game-day 17 to work in tandem with bench hooker Owen Pattie.
Jacob Laban has also been fined $1000 after the Warriors young gun entered an early guilty plea to a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact charge.
Sammy & Aysh react after the fulltime whistle blows between the Warriors and Raiders | Sport Nation League
