‘Out of order’ Robinson confronts rival captain after loss

Roosters coach Trent Robinson gave Canberra captain Elliott Whitehead a piece of his mind after the Raiders scored up upset victory on Sunday.
The green machine finished two points in front of the Chooks, who lost four players to injury during the contest.
One of those players was hooker Brandon Smith, who limped off the field after Whitehead fell on his leg in a tackle.
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On Monday it was revealed Smith has likely ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, finishing his season and ruining up to half of next year too.
The Raiders skipper was sin-binned for the incident and faces a suspension on Monday – although his NRL career is finishing regardless.
Whitehead attempted to apologise to Smith following the game but says he was then confronted by an angry Robinson.
Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead and Roosters coach Trent Robinson. NRL
“Obviously I didn’t mean to do Brandon, I know he’s come up with a bad injury, and I’m sorry to him for that,” Whitehead told media.
“I wasn’t happy about the way I’ve gone over to ask about Brandon and Trent Robinson has had a go at me.
“I went to apologise and he’s turned on me. The way he’s done that I thought he was out of order.
“I’m sorry to Brandon.”
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Robinson explained his feelings in his own press conference.
He says he didn’t plan on making the feud public, but had to respond after Whitehead revealed their run-in.
“He came up and just wanted to ask how Brandon was,” Robinson said.
“I sort of said ‘it’s too many times’ – the hip drop has been pretty common in his game for a long time, and I said it’s too many times, it cost us a player.
“That was it. He said ‘it was an accident’ and I just said ‘look, you’ve done it too many times’ – that was it.
“He’s done a lot in his career, it’s been pretty common if you go and have a look.
“I like Elliott, I’ve watched him since he was in Bradford and Catalans… but it’s been pretty common.
“I wouldn’t usually want to talk to you guys about it, but he opened it up and it’s been really common in his game his whole career.”
While the Raiders are level on competition points with the Dolphins, Knights, and Dragons, they need to beat St George Illawarra this week and hope the Dolphins and Knights draw if they plan on playing finals.
It means any suspension to Whitehead will mean his career with Canberra is over.