Josh Papalii wasn’t the only Canberra Raiders player celebrating a career milestone this past week.
Centre Matt Timoko reached 100 games for the Raiders while prop Corey Horsburgh celebrated 100 NRL games – 98 with Canberra and two with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Timoko debuted for the Raiders in August 2020 with a home game against the Bulldogs.
When CD asked coach Ricky Stuart about the milestones at the post-match press conference on 8 June, he praised Timoko.
“He did a good job tonight. He’s under a lot of pressure out there with Latrell (Mitchell), and Cody Walker, Jack (Wighton), they peppered that side of the field, which they do every week. And we’re working really hard on that side of the footy field during the week,” Stuart said.
“Defensively, they did a good job tonight.
“A couple of tries went down, well one try went down by our right edge, but that’s the hardest position on the field to defend, wing and centre.
“I was really happy for Matty Timoko because he’s been another character in this group we’ve got at the moment.
“He’s still a pretty young bloke (25) but getting 100 games, he’s an experienced campaigner, he’s an international (for New Zealand and New Zealand Māori)”
The press conference erupted into laughter when Stuart said Horsburgh wasn’t celebrating 100 yet because “he played a couple of games with another mob in COVID”.
“He’s got two games to go,” Stuart told CD.
“The dogs asked him if he could play a couple of games for them, they were a bit short in the COVID period and Red wasn’t playing for us.
“It was good to give him some match fitness.
“And he doesn’t want to celebrate today either, so he’ll be in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Horsburgh debuted for the Raiders in March 2019, playing his on-loan games with the Bulldogs in 2021.
The prop has been named on Queensland’s extended bench for Game II of the State of Origin.
Stuart also praised Papalii in his 319th appearance for the Raiders.
“That will be a memory that we all will probably never forget. One of our most loved players and one of our greats,” he told the media.
Stuart went as far as to say Papalii was in the top five greats of the club, alongside Mal Meninga, Glenn Lazarus, Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde.
“I’m happy for him, I’m happy because the boys did it for him. I know what Joe (Tapine) had done this week to get those boys ready to play for Josh,” Stuart said.
When asked about feeling emotional when Papalii converted his own try, Stuart said, “he’s more of a mate than a guy I coach”.
Stuart also thanked the Canberra community for supporting the team in selling out the stadium once again following the top-of-the-table clash against the Bulldogs in May.
“I just wanted to thank all the Canberra people, we talk about it, how tough and passionate and loyal they are,” he said.
“Honestly, to come out there and respect Josh and for what our club put on for the game against the Dogs here, it was an unbelievable atmosphere.
“But in those conditions today, it was five degrees, raining and windy, honestly, they are best fans to play for.”
Stuart said when he hears the fans booing when the team isn’t doing well, he agrees with them.
“But they’re so passionate, they want to win,” he said.
“Canberra’s a different place when the Raiders are winning.
“I want to thank Canberra because it was an unbelievable effort by those people just to be here today and support these boys.”
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