Corey Horsburgh has admitted he’s been through a tough mental and physical battle at the Raiders—and at one point said he “didn’t feel like playing for Canberra” anymore.** The friction began last year when coach Ricky Stuart dropped him from first grade in pre-season. Horsburgh says they “stopped talking,” and he felt isolated, out of shape, and dispassionate ([brisbanetimes.com.au][1]).
During the NSW Cup stint, he “stopped over‑thinking,” “started having fun,” and rediscovered his love for footy ([brisbanetimes.com.au][1]). Crucially, his manager arranged therapy sessions where he identified personal triggers and accepted his own responsibility .
He also revamped his lifestyle—cutting weight, cleaning up his diet (even bailing on American food in Vegas), and committing to hard training for the 2025 season ([nrl.com][2]). These changes didn’t go unnoticed: Stuart brought him straight back into the starting forward pack, and Horsburgh has responded with strong form, earning back his coach’s trust ([foxsports.com.au][3]).
Despite earlier asking for release talks with other clubs, he ultimately recommitted to Canberra, citing his daughter and family as motivation ([sportingnews.com][4]).
⚠️ Bottom line: What started as a mental slump and coach-player breakdown became a turning point—therapy, discipline, and self-awareness not only reignited his passion but also put him back on track at the Raiders.
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