Canberra Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh is set to join the Perth Bears, but both him and head coach Ricky Stuart have suggested it has nothing to do with last weekend's blow up.
Horsburgh found himself dropped from this weekend's game against the Sharks after the incidents of last weekend, with the forward then reportedly signing a deal with the Perth Bears to leave the nation's capital at the end of the season.
It was believed his axing came about given the issues between he and Stuart, but speaking on Friday, the head coach said it was simply a rest for the prop with the Raiders all but out of finals contention.
“I decided to give him a rest. I spoke to Corey about that, and he was comfortable," Stuart said of the forward not playing this weekend.
Stuart also suggested he is yet to be told Horsburgh will be heading to Perth, other than reading the media narrative.
"I don't know. I keep hearing Perth, but I was talking to Corey yesterday and he hasn't mentioned anything to me. He doesn't need to. It's personal and something he has to work through," Stuart said.
The coach said he has no problems with the prop, saying the pair still get on fine and are talking without issue.
"Corey knows that I like Corey. There is no one who could say that I dislike Corey, because I don't," Stuart said.
"I've worked with Corey for a long time. I can't probably strongly enough say that there is no ill feelings from myself. You'd have to ask Corey about that from his point of view, but I've been comfortable talking to Corey this week and explaining the situation."
The comments follow those made by Horsburgh's manager Jeff Jurote which suggests Horsburgh has also moved on and is looking forward to getting to Perth.
“(Ricky's) blow-up on Sunday had nothing to do with him being out of favour. It was just one of those things,” Jurotte said in a News Corp report.
“I think Ricky is fairly remorseful about it all. They have butted heads for ages, but they are two passionate guys and they've always made up.
“Ricky's the only coach Corey's really had at senior level and the pair had a good chat at training the other day.
“I've spoken to Corey about it and he's fine. He's moved on. There's no ill-feeling.
“He's made a good decision to go over to Perth and he's happy to be making the move.
“The deal will get done.”
