After recent speculation Corey Horsburgh was set to leave Canberra, the fiery middle forward has declared he wants to continue his career at the Raiders.

Horsburgh had been heavily linked with a move to the Tigers after falling out of favour at the Raiders this season.

A Queensland representative in 2023, the man they call ‘Big Red’ began the year sidelined through suspension and struggled to get going once available, with a groin injury also working against him.

But Horsburgh returned to first-grade calculations towards the end of the year, playing three of his five games for 2024 in the last three weeks of the regular season, with Canberra winning all three.

He notably scored the winning try in the 26-24 win over the Dragons that hoisted Canberra to ninth on the ladder to finish the year.

Horsburgh’s management had initially approached the Green Machine to request a release from his deal, which expires at the end of 2027.

But the 26-year-old has reportedly told the Raiders he is keen to remain at the club in 2025 and beyond.

It was reported Horsburgh and Canberra coach Ricky Stuart had a falling out earlier in the season. Stuart played down those reports after the win over the Dragons, igniting hope that the fan favourite would stay with the Green Machine.

“I’ve got no doubt about his football talent… there’s nothing personal with Corey and I, there’s nothing personal at all,” the coach said.

“I really like Corey as a person, I’m just trying to help Corey. It’s purely up to Corey. I want Corey at the club and Corey knows the way I need him at the club.

“It’s not a personal issue. I tell Red what he needs to hear, his father’s a big supporter, his mother’s down in the changeroom now, his family.

“All the boys want Red playing beside him when he’s like this today.”

With AAP