Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has slammed “complicated” officiating as his facet have been crushed 30-22 defeat by the Dolphins on Thursday night time.
Stuart didn’t reply questions, however delivered a brief, unscripted assertion blasting inconsistencies within the NRL earlier than strolling out.
“I used to be very happy with how they [the team] carried out, and the higher staff gained,” Stuart stated in his post-match press convention.
“However the recreation has interpretations and guidelines and in place in the meanwhile the place we decide them and select once we apply them, and it is a very irritating scenario for individuals who are concerned as gamers and coaches.
“In all of the years I have been concerned within the recreation as a coach, I’ve by no means been so confused.
“It is disappointing to say the least, however I am simply so confused in the meanwhile with reference to… I imply, you’ll be able to’t have a rule and apply it one week and never the subsequent week.
“I’ve by no means been so confused and it is disappointing, as a result of I like the sport.”
For his half, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf acknowledged that a few 50:50 calls went his facet’s method.
“There’s all the time 50-50 calls, there’s all the time issues that,” Woolf stated.
“There is a couple within the second half there that I assumed we might most likely have go our option to make a little bit of a distinction, however that is each recreation. It does not cease you from scoring tries, it does not imply that you may’t cease tries as nicely.”
Tevita Naufahu scored the Dolphins’ first. (Getty Pictures: Mark Nolan)
Woolf was thrilled together with his depleted staff who, regardless of lacking six first-team starters by way of damage and Origin, gained a fourth-straight NRL recreation for the very first time.
Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, winger Selwyn Cobbo, prop Thomas Flegler and lock Max Plath have been all lacking from the Dolphins ranks resulting from Queensland Origin name ups, whereas centre Herbie Farnworth and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima have been each lacking resulting from hamstring points.
However, because of a delightfully assured show from Isaiya Katoa, backed up by enormous contributions from his edge forwards, the Dolphins by no means regarded rattled to maneuver additional into the highest eight, whereas the Raiders fell to a second consecutive defeat both facet of the bye.
The sport starter chaotically for the Raiders, with Jed Stuart opening the scoring simply minutes after being informed he would begin rather than Seb Kris, who was injured within the heat up.
That added to the Raiders’ defensive instability, supplied by the absence of Ethan Unusual and Hudson Younger who’re each away in Blues Origin camp.
Nevertheless, it was their porous defence and woeful ill-discipline that proved costliest, with no obtrusive incident within the recreation seemingly egregious to be singled out by Stuart within the aftermath.
Jed Stuart scored two minutes right into a match he solely discovered he was beginning 5 minutes earlier than kick off. (AAP Picture: Lukas Coch)
The Dolphins hit again by way of Tevita Naufahu quickly after, earlier than Corey Horsburgh benefited from a ball that bounced twice on the cross bar earlier than falling in his lap.
After that end-to-end begin although, three-straight tries for the Dolphins opened up a niche the Raiders might by no means shut, as Morgan Knowles, Jamayne Isaako and Ray Stone all scored within the house of 12 minutes.
The Raiders decreased the hole simply earlier than the break by way of a Savelio Tamale attempt, after which scored the primary attempt of the second half by way of Zac Hosking to cut back the deficit to simply two factors.
Nevertheless, Brad Schneider bustled by way of the Raiders defence to attain the clincher, earlier than Raiders ill-discipline counted in opposition to them within the finale.
In the meantime, Queensland’s Origin stars stated they hope Jai Arrow will settle for an invite to affix them in camp after his MND analysis.
After the match, Matty Johns broke down on his Fox Sports activities present following the sport when speaking about Arrow’s analysis.
“It is heartbreaking. We’re actually considering of you.
“There’s nothing else to say aside from life’s f***** generally.”
Stuart began his assertion with an ode to Arrow, saying that though the ex-Maroons ahead has “bought a large battle on his palms … he is definitely bought the rugby league world supporting him.”
Look again on how all of the motion unfolded in our reside weblog.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 7:49pm
Updates: Raiders vs Dolphins
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:39pm
Stuart slams refereeing, says he is confused
Oh boy, right here we go.
Ricky Stuart shouldn’t be taking questions and simply speaks briefly with an unwritten assertion.
“I used to be very happy with how they [the Raiders] carried out and the higher staff gained,” Stuart says.
“However the recreation has interpretations and guidelines in place in the meanwhile the place we decide them and select them, once we apply them, and it is a very irritating scenario for individuals who are concerned as gamers and coaches.
“In all of the years I have been concerned within the recreation as a coach, I’ve by no means been so confused.
“It is disappointing to say the least, however I am simply so confused in the meanwhile with reference to… I imply, you’ll be able to’t have a rule and apply it one week and never the subsequent week.
“I’ve by no means been so confused and it is disappointing, as a result of I like the sport.”
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:36pm
Ricky Stuart hails ‘brave footballer’ Jai Arrow
He begins the press convention by saying the membership is totally supportive of the plight Jai Arrow is in.
He says that Arrow has the membership’s full assist.
“He is a really brave footballer and he is a really brave younger man,” Stuart says.
“He is bought a large battle on his palms however he is definitely bought the rugby league world supporting him and I used to be wanting him to know from all of us right here on the Raiders we’re totally supporting him too.”
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:33pm
‘We’re not sitting right here falling in love with ourselves’: Jamayne Isaako
A pleasant line from the Dolphins skipper Jamayne Isaako in that presser.
He was requested whether or not issues across the membership really feel totally different now from final yr.
“I feel we have got to maintain that perception inside ourselves and clearly with our group,” Isaako says,
“We’re not sitting right here wanting on the ladder. Clearly it is nice to be within the prime eight in the meanwhile however we perceive we have been midway by way of the season, so we’re not sitting right here falling in love with ourselves.
“There’s nonetheless loads of issues as a staff that we have to enhance on, however like Wolfie stated, to have the ability to come win 4 in a row and do it right here in Canberra with clearly the Origin boys out and a few guys getting a possibility. I feel that is the factor I am most happy with.”
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:31pm
to listen to what Ricky Stuart thought concerning the refereeing
Within the press room there’s clearly a sense that a number of the selections in that second half went in opposition to the Raiders.
Little question Ricky will tell us if he feels aggrieved.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:27pm
‘There’s all the time 5050 calls’: Woolf
Woolf is requested by an area reporter concerning the penalty selections.
“There’s all the time 5050 calls, there’s all the time a number of that you simply really feel go in opposition to you,” Woolf says.
“That is each recreation.
“That is does not cease you from scoring tries, it does not cease you from stopping tries.”
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:24pm
Woolf hails ‘robust’ Dolphins
Lastly, now we have Kristian Woolf of the Dolphins be part of the press convention.
“I simply thought we have been actually robust,” he says.
“Most likely might have been slightly bit smarter in that second half. We form of allowed it to change into slightly bit scrappy and simply appear like we needed to… there isn’t any doubt in our effort and our want to win, however we simply regarded like we thought we needed to win shortly.
“What I liked is simply the best way we hung in and defended and defended how lengthy we have been on the finish.”
He provides that the debutants have been very spectacular.
“I am actually joyful for them,” he says.
Woolf says that the staff have turned a nook since a sluggish begin for the season.
“I have been actually pleased with the final six weeks,” he says.
“Little question we’re on the correct path.
“We have had actually shut losses in opposition to one and two within the comp, and we have gained our final 4
“I simply love the best way we’re preventing for one another. That is an important factor. You’ll be able to see we’re turning up, you’ll be able to see we’re preventing for one another and that is what you need the staff to be about and our different components will definitely come off of that.”
He says the Dolphins will “actually get pleasure from” the bye week.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:20pm
Somebody should have performed the numbers on them…
A lot choose lengthy kickoffs/dropouts. Brief kicks are such a low proportion play.
– KB
However sure, instinctively, I would need the ball beginning as distant from my line as attainable.
The brief drop out simply appears like inviting an excessive amount of stress.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 10:19pm
We’re nonetheless ready for the coaches to return by way of…
Hopefully it will not be too lengthy now…
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:55pm
Matty Johns breaks down speaking about Jai Arrow
Earlier than we hear from the coaches, Matty Johns has been talking on his Fox Sports activities present.
He s visibly upset speaking about Jai Arrow’s MND analysis.
“Mate, we want you all the easiest,” Johns says.
“We’re considering of you and your family members at this troublesome time.
“He is been on the present … our Sunday night time present 4 or 5 occasions, I am telling you, a champion bloke.
“It is heartbreaking. We’re actually considering of you.
“There’s nothing else to say aside from life’s f***** generally.”
His voice was cracking there and despatched the present to a break, whereas Billy Moore tapped his leg.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:44pm
FT: The Dolphins win four-straight for the primary time of their NRL historical past
Wow, what a recreation now we have seen tonight.
Seven tries within the opening half. Only a attempt every within the second.
However the Dolphins have come out on prime of what was a very, actually good recreation.
Jed Stuart opened the scoring, simply minutes after being informed he would begin rather than Seb Kris, who injured himself within the heat up.
The Dolphins hit again by way of Tevita Naufahu quickly after, earlier than Corey Horsburgh benefited from a ball that bounced twice on the cross bar earlier than falling in his lap.
After that although, three-straight tries for the Dolphins opened up a niche the Raiders might by no means shut, as Morgan Knowles, Jamayne Isaako and Ray Stone all scored within the house of 12 minutes.
Regardless of lacking 4 Origin stars and two key backs by way of damage, the Dolphins excelled because of a glowing efficiency from Isaiya Katoa.
The Raiders scored simply earlier than the break by way of Savelio Tamale, after which scored the primary attempt of the second half by way of Zac Hosking to cut back the deficit to 2 factors.
Nevertheless, Brad Schneider bustled by way of the Raiders defence to attain the clincher, earlier than Raiders ill-discipline counted in opposition to them within the finale.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:43pm
79′ THE RAIDERS KICK A 20:40!
The Dolphins misplaced the ball straight off the penalty and the Raiders kicked on the primary – presumably to present Weekes one thing to chase.
However as a substitute they get the ball off a savage off break that takes the ball out simply previous the Dolphins 40.
The Raiders kick was from inside their very own 20 so that they get the ball.
The lesser noticed 20:40. How about it?
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:42pm
78′ Penalty for dissent!
WHILE IN POSSESSION!
That’s appalling self-discipline from the Raiders.
I do not know who it was, however they felt that the Dolphins have been sluggish in getting up off the sort out and deserved a set restart.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:40pm
‘Phins up
The Phins are struggling with out their large identify gamers – struggling to include their brilliance…
– Mike
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:39pm
75′ Penalty Dolphins!
Corey Horsburgh with a shoulder cost – he is on report for that as nicely.
Only a ill-discipline there from the Raiders onerous man.
The Dolphins will take their time and try to see this one out from right here.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:38pm
75′ Raiders kick the ball away!
That is a poor alternative from Ethan Sanders, kicking the ball on the third sort out.
The Raiders desire a penalty for an escort however that’s so optimistic.
And it isn’t going to repay for them – no extra challenges and the Dolphins grasp on.
The early kick was simply not the correct choice – and it was too heavy regardless.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:37pm
74′ Canberra penalty!
The Raiders kicked to the correct facet, difficult Trai Fuller as soon as once more.
The ball falls to Stuart, who gathered the bouncing ball one handed because it flew as much as his shoulder after which kicked in a single movement, however the Dolphins shut the hole and it is a penalty.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:35pm
72′ The Raiders discover the touchline from the kick off!
Sensible kick off from Ethan Sanders!
He powered it into the sideline and the Raiders will get the ball again simply exterior the Dolphins 30!
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:34pm
71′ THE DOLPHINS SCORE ANOTHER!
Bradley Schneider did all of it himself!
The previous Raider simply bulldozed himself by way of the primary line of defence after which powered over Kaeo Weekes to attain.
There wasn’t rather a lot on there for the Dolphins, a pleasant shift to the left facet however.
However Schneider simply bought the ball and powered by way of to attain.
The kick is sweet and because the lead goes out to eight factors, the ambiance is sucked out of the gang.
Dolphins lead 30-22.
Thu 21 Might 2026 at 9:32pm
69′ Dolphins power Raiders aim line drop out
Savelio Tamale does very well to get himself nicely positioned to deal with a Isaiya Katoa kick.
Katoa had an age to set himself for that kick after which measured it to discover a leaping Bostock.
The Raiders go lengthy.
