Jul 30th, 2018

Jul 30th, 2018

In a wonderful display of sportsmanship, Ricky Stuart has reached out to the touch judge whose error ended his Canberra team’s season a week ago.

Touch judge Ricky McFarlane was shattered when he erroneously raised his flag in the Sharks-Raiders game a week ago.

Several Raiders players stopped upon seeing the flag raised and the Sharks scored a vital try.

McFarlane was punished by NRL referees’ boss Bernard Sutton, dropped to bush footy and given a tongue-lashing.

NRL Press Conference: Canberra Raiders - Round 19

Friends have described how McFarlane was reduced to tears by his error, barely able to function.

Stuart, upon hearing this, attempted to contact McFarlane to console him.

He was unsuccessful as McFarlane’s phone was not on at the time, but the gesture was greatly appreciated.

“Ricky heard the guy was doing it tough and just wanted to let him know that mistakes happen,” a source told WWOS.

“We are all human and people make mistakes - you just have to put them behind you and get on with life.”