Fresh Trent Robinson and Elliot Whitehead footage emerges as Roosters coach comes under fire

Fresh footage has emerged of Elliott Whitehead and Trent Robinson’s heated post-game exchange. Whitehead took aim at the Roosters coach after the match for not accepting his post-match apology for the tackle that injured hooker Brandon Smith.

It resulted in Smith rupturing his ACL after his leg got awkwardly entangled in the tackle with the Raiders skipper in Canberra's' 14-12 win on Sunday. Smith will need to undergo surgery, putting him out for the remainder of the 2024 NRL season and the start of the 2025 campaign.

Whitehead and Robinson spoke of the spat in their respective press conferences following the Raiders' 14-12 win over the Roosters. But fresh vision of the incident has since emerged, showing Whitehead walking over to Robinson before the pair seemingly engage in a heated exchange before the Raiders skipper walks away.

"I went over to ask about Brandon and Trent Robinson's had a go at me," Whitehead said of the incident. "I went to apologise, and he's turned on me, so the way he's done that I thought (he) was out of order. I didn't mean to do Brandon. I know he's come up with a bad injury and stuff, and I'm sorry to him for that."

Robinson claims Whitehead has history of hip-drop tackles

Robinson was asked about the confrontation with Raiders captain after the match and he sensationally accused him of commonly using the dangerous hip drop tackle. “He came up and wanted to ask how Brandon was, and I just said it’s too many times,” Robinson said.

"The hip-drop's been pretty common in his game for a long time, and I just said it's too many times. It's cost us a player. That was it. He said it was an accident, and I just said 'Look, you've done it too many times'. That was it."

When Robinson was asked to clarify what he meant, he doubled down on his claims that the Raiders skipper regularly uses the outlawed tackle. “Yeah. He’s done it a lot in his career, so it’s been pretty common if you go and have a look,” he said.

“I like Elliott. I’ve watched him since he played for Bradford and Catalans but it’s been pretty common. I know he’s opened it up here which is why we’re talking about it and I wouldn’t want to usually talk to you guys about it but he opened it up and it’s been really common in his game his whole career.”

NRL world calls out 'classless' Trent Robinson act

However, in the past two years, Whitehead has only been charged with grade-one offences. And many fans and pundits have since called out Robinson's actions post-match.

The Australian's Brent Read told NRL360 on Monday night that he feels Robinson needed to “show a little bit more class”. "I don’t like the reaction from Robbo," Read said. "Elliott has come to apologise and see how Brandon is so I think you have to show a little bit more class than to attack him (Whitehead). He’s lucky Elliott didn’t put one on his chin."

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While Andrew Voss also believes Robinson was out of line. "This is a 400-gamer and Trent Robinson has assassinated him. I hate the term serial offender. He chose his words poorly. "I don't think that's right to say that about Whitehead. The Raiders have every right to be angry at the Roosters."