Raiders fans expressed their frustration and disappointment when referee Wyatt Raymond failed to penalize Brisbane’s Jordan Riki after an incident involving an elbow to the throat of Canberra’s Hudson Young. The incident occurred on Saturday night in Canberra, as Riki carried the ball forward, lifting his left arm to shield himself. Unfortunately, his forearm and elbow made contact with Young’s throat, causing the Raiders player to immediately recoil in pain and fall to his knees, clutching at his throat.
Young received medical attention on the field, with the game temporarily paused for him to be checked by a trainer. Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane remarked that the situation was alarming, describing it as “frightening” and noting that it appeared to be a serious injury. Young was visibly upset and called for a penalty, but Raymond made the decision not to penalize Riki for the incident, which further angered the home crowd.
The moment sparked outrage among Raiders supporters, especially as the Broncos retained possession of the ball after the decision. League legend Greg Alexander weighed in on the matter, referencing the dangers of elbows to the throat, citing past incidents in the sport where such actions had led to severe injuries.
One notable example occurred in 2021 when Cronulla’s Andrew Fifita suffered a laryngeal fracture due to an elbow to the throat, which required him to undergo emergency surgery and be placed in an induced coma. Similarly, in 2017, Newcastle’s Rory Kostjasyn had to retire from the game after an accidental elbow to his throat during training.
Fortunately, Young was able to recover from the incident, get back to his feet, and continue playing without any lasting effects. However, the moment raised serious concerns about player safety and the need for appropriate disciplinary measures in such cases.