Footy bad boy Corey Horsburgh learns his fate after he punched and headbutted rival in reserve grade brawl that saw three players sent off
- Corey Horsburgh has been given a three-match ban
- Soccer boy started a fight in the reserve class
- He has a long criminal record in his football career
Corey Horsburgh has been banned for three matches for head-butting and punching in a reserve-quality match, further damaging the Canberra forward’s hopes of an NRL comeback.
Horsburgh’s brainteaser against Jacob Laban sparked a brawl during the Raiders’ 24-18 defeat in the NSW Cup on Saturday and led to him, along with Warriors forwards Laban and Tom Ale, being sent off.
On Monday, Horsburgh was charged with two separate offences by the NSW Rugby League Match Review Committee, one for a first-degree offence and the other for a second-degree offence for his headbutt and punches.
Horsburgh has accepted a one- and two-match ban as early admissions for his respective offences.
That means Horsburgh, in a season already punctuated by injuries and suspensions, will not be able to play for the Raiders’ NRL team until the round 21 clash against South Sydney.
Horsburgh appeared to head Laban off the ball as the Raiders attacked the Warriors’ line in the second half, later throwing a series of punches at the back rower.
Referee Martin Jones was convinced that Laban had also struck Horsburgh, but video footage cast doubt on that claim and Laban has not yet been punished.
For his part in the fight, Ale has been issued an initial charge and could accept a one-match ban after Jones accused him of kicking Horsburgh.
Footy bad boy Corey Horsburgh has been suspended for three matches
Horsburgh punched and headbutted an opponent during a reserve class match
Ale has until Tuesday to file an application and risks missing two games if he takes his case to the NSWRL judiciary.
Horsburgh, who represented State of Origin last year, has made just two appearances for the Raiders NRL side in 2024, his most recent appearance coming in round five.
He missed the first three weeks of the season due to suspension, until a groin injury sidelined him in early April.
The 26-year-old has been back in the reserve division since June 15, but has yet to break into a first division side that lacks punch in attack and has lost four of its past five games.