<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339022</docID> <postdate>2025-02-25 09:14:37</postdate> <headline>‘Embarrassed’ Raiders apologise for Vegas dust-up</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339023" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20240614197932598442-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Hudson Young has apologised for his part in the Las Vegas elevator incident. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jasper Bruce</strong></span></p> <p><strong>The two Canberra players who fought each other after a night out in Las Vegas are "embarrassed" about pulling focus from the NRL's showpiece event.</strong></p> <p>Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies fronted the press on Tuesday morning (AEDT) to apologise for the fracas that took place in an elevator at Resorts World on Thursday night.</p> <p>It's believed the two forwards began fighting when one was left without a hotel room on return from a night out.</p> <p>Hotel security attended the scene and found what was thought to be a weapon, but was later revealed as an inflatable baseball bat.</p> <p>Police were not called and the pair are expected to line up against the Warriors on Sunday (AEDT) for the first game of the new NRL season.</p> <p>Young came up short when touring media asked why he and Smithies should be allowed to remain in Vegas.</p> <p>"I don't really know, but we've dealt with it internally as a club," he said.</p> <p>"I'm just sorry for my actions on Thursday night and look forward to playing on Saturday.</p> <p>"I'm embarrassed for myself, our teammates, the NRL and the game."</p> <p>On reviewing security footage, staff briefly asked Young and Smithies to leave Resorts World, where the NRL's players and staff are staying during rugby league's second annual trip to Vegas.</p> <p>They have since returned and patched up a friendship that has blossomed since Smithies arrived at the Raiders for the 2024 season.</p> <p>"We're best mates. It was honestly nothing," Young said.</p> <p>"He was at mine for Christmas and our partners are travelling America at the moment, so there's no issues there."</p> <p>Ricky Stuart, known as one of the NRL's toughest coaches, has addressed the two men.</p> <p>"We were disappointed in ourselves, so obviously he's going to be disappointed in us," said English international Smithies.</p> <p>"But we apologised. We're just looking to move on and focus on this week. Obviously it's a massive week, so we're just looking to put it to bed."</p> <p>The dust-up comes after the Raiders and Warriors both confirmed last week they would not impose a curfew on players ahead of this weekend's fixtures at Allegiant Stadium.</p> <p>The dust-up is the NRL's first off-field incident in Vegas, though Spencer Leniu's on-field racial attack on Ezra Mam cast a pall over last season's trip.</p> <p>The Raiders finished ninth and missed finals last NRL season, despite impressive defeats of heavyweights Penrith and the Sydney Roosters late in the year.</p> </body>