Ricky Stuart says two of his Canberra Raiders players were quick to stand up for Tolu Koula during Wednesday night’s State of Origin. Multiple outlets report that the players were among the first to rush to Koula’s defence as the incident unfolded. Stuart comments that the reaction did not surprise him, describing it as part of the players’ character and “DNA,” suggesting a long-standing team culture of loyalty and protection.
The reports focus on Stuart’s perspective and the immediate on-field response rather than on any detailed account of what led to the confrontation or what disciplinary actions, if any, follow. While the outlets align on the central point—that Canberra players moved to defend Koula early and that Stuart viewed this positively as consistent with their attitude—the available summaries do not provide further specifics on Koula’s involvement beyond the fact that he is the player being defended.
