The New Zealand Warriors have launched an announcement saying the NRL Integrity Unit is investigating after assistant coach Richard Agar allegedly grabbed an English journalist at half-time of their defeat to Canberra in Las Vegas.
“Publish sport I used to be made conscious of an alleged incident at half-time involving assistant coach Richard Agar and an English journalist John Davidson from The Guardian,” Warriors chief government Cameron George stated in an announcement.
“This morning I had the chance to talk with the NRL Integrity Unit. They’re working via their course of which can embrace us.
“I hope their course of might be environment friendly and immediate so we will present readability on the matter.”
Davidson didn’t point out any incident on his social media profiles, however did describe his journey to Vegas as “fascinating” on X.
“So lengthy Vegas. It has been… fascinating,” he wrote.
Agar, an ex-player with nearly 200 appearances within the English skilled sport, has beforehand coached Leeds, Wakefield Trinity and Hull within the Tremendous League, in addition to a spell in control of the French nationwide staff.
He moved to the Warriors in 2022 after resigning from the Leeds head teaching position.
The Warriors had been second finest of their match in opposition to the Raiders, dropping 30-8 at Allegiant Stadium.
Nonetheless, Canberra’s assertion win got here at a giant price for the Raiders too, with captain Joe Tapine and star winger Xavier Savage going through suspensions from the NRL match overview committee.
Xavier Savage faces a ban for a late hit. (Getty Pictures: Ezra Shaw)
Raiders captain Tapine went to the sin bin for shoulder-charging Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett within the second half.
“We turned the ball over and that is my job, I am making an attempt to pump the boys up and I am making an attempt to show the momentum,” Tapine stated of the hit.
He’ll miss Canberra’s subsequent two video games in opposition to Brisbane and Manly with an early responsible plea for his grade-two cost, however dangers sitting out a 3rd sport in opposition to North Queensland by taking his case to the judiciary.
Coach Ricky Stuart stated the NRL had set the usual for shoulder-charge calls this season by sin-binning Tapine.
“I am not saying it is the improper name, but it surely’s an enormous name. However so long as it stays in each sport now,” Stuart stated.
Savage, tipped because the Raiders’ successor to livewire again Jordan Rapana, is ready to overlook the Broncos conflict for attacking Chanel Harris-Tavita’s legs as he kicked within the first half.
The NRL takes a dim view of comparable photographs, with Freddy Lussick notably inflicting a critical leg harm on Lachlan Ilias within the NSW Cup final yr.
Savage, who was sensible for the Raiders, scoring two tries simply days after proposing to his girlfriend, will miss a second sport if he challenges his grade-two harmful contact cost.
It is a bitter blow for a Canberra facet that missed finals final yr however produced its most full efficiency in reminiscence throughout the first sport of the season.
Albert Hopoate seems the likeliest man to return into the backline for the Raiders after he missed the journey to Vegas to attend the beginning of his youngster.
Trey Mooney, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo are amongst middle-forward choices that might exchange Tapine within the 17.
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