Tapine walks free as fellow Raider whacked with ban
George Clarke |

Canberra hooker Tom Starling is facing a one-game ban as Raiders captain Joseph Tapine escaped suspension for two reportable incidents in his side’s gutsy win over the Warriors.
Tapine has avoided a ban and will be free to face the Sydney Roosters on Sunday after being placed on report twice by referee Adam Gee in Canberra’s 16-10 victory over the Warriors.
The New Zealand Test forward was not even charged for a crusher tackle on Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in Sunday’s win, but was slugged with a $3000 fine for a grade-one shoulder charge on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh was also handed a $1800 fine after being charged for dangerous contact.
There was no such luck for Starling, however, with the hooker hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge for a high shot on Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita in the 77th minute.
Starling was sin-binned at the time and will miss just one game if he pleads guilty.
The absence of the No.9 will likely bring journeyman Danny Levi into second-placed Canberra’s game-day 17 to work in tandem with bench hooker Owen Pattie.
AAP