Raiders’ big Vegas win comes at cost for Tapine, Savage

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Raiders’ big Vegas win comes at cost for Tapine, Savage

Canberra’s statement win in Las Vegas has come at a big cost with captain Joe Tapine and star winger Xavier Savage facing suspensions from the NRL match review committee.

Raiders captain Tapine went to the sin bin for shoulder-charging Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett in the second half of the 30-8 victory that opened the NRL season on Sunday (AEDT).

“We turned the ball over and that’s my job, I’m trying to pump the boys up and I’m trying to turn the momentum,” Tapine said of the hit.

He will miss Canberra’s next two games against Brisbane and Manly with an early guilty plea for his grade-two charge, but risks sitting out a third game against North Queensland by taking his case to the judiciary.

Coach Ricky Stuart said the NRL had set the standard for shoulder-charge calls this season by sin-binning Tapine.

“I’m not saying it’s the wrong call, but it’s a massive call. But as long as it stays in every game now,” Stuart said.

Savage, tipped as the Raiders’ successor to livewire back Jordan Rapana, is set to miss the Broncos clash for attacking Chanel Harris-Tavita’s legs as he kicked in the first half.

The NRL takes a dim view of similar shots, with Freddy Lussick notably inflicting a serious leg injury on Lachlan Ilias in the NSW Cup last year.

Savage will miss a second game if he challenges his grade-two dangerous contact charge.

It’s a bitter blow for a Canberra side that missed finals last year but produced their most complete performance in memory during the first game of the season.

Albert Hopoate appears the likeliest man to come into the backline for the Raiders after he missed the trip to Vegas to attend the birth of his child.

Trey Mooney, Myles Martin and Pasami Saulo are among middle-forward options that could replace Tapine in the 17.

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