Fiery Raider’s explanation after punching Eels star

Horsburgh barged in and set his sights on Matterson, striking the Eels forward before several players attempted to break up the tussle.

Speaking post-match, Young excused the fiery encounter from his teammate.

“He’s an angry, red devil but you wouldn’t change it,” he told Fox Footy.

“It’s a game of footy and [it shows] he’s got our back like everyone has his back on the footy field.

“Sometimes things just get a bit heated.”

Young delivered another superb performance for Canberra, finishing the match with a try, 97 metres run, two tackle busts, three offloads and 20 tackles.

Asked what he was thinking in escalating the situation with Matterson, Horsburgh explained that physicality was a deep-seated part of his game.

“It’s safe to say I wasn’t really thinking but that’s how I play footy,” he told Fox Footy after the game. 

“In the moment stuff happens and I’ve got to live with [the consequences] of that.”

NRL Highlights: Raiders v Eels – Round 11

Former Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga was critical of Horsburgh’s undisciplined behaviour, as the Eels scored through J’maine Hopgood while the lock was off the field.

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“It’s one of those things that you don’t think for that split second and then you let a little one go,” Horsburgh added.

“I’m still working on it.

That’s how I have been since I was young but I’m getting better – just little split seconds I guess.”

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