Coach Ricky Stuart’s return to training has given Canberra a boost – and some new ideas -ahead of their must-win NRL clash with crisis-hit Newcastle on Sunday.
Hit with a one-match ban and fined $25,000 for post-match comments aimed at Penrith’s Jaeman Salmon, Stuart wasn’t allowed to have contact with his players or coaches up to and including last Sunday’s win over St George Illawarra.
But he was back on deck on Wednesday after completing the suspension and front-rower Josh Papalii said the Raiders’ mentor made good use of his enforced break.
“He’s come in with so many good ideas. Sitting at home with the pen and paper coming up with all these other plays,” Papalii told reporters.
“He obviously means so much to the club and the club means so much to him.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and obviously it shows on his return, he was straight back into his office and straight to doing meetings with the boys.
“We love Stick and it’s good to have him back.”
The first item on Stuart’s agenda will be masterminding an unlikely tilt at finals football for his team.
The two-point win over the Dragons means the Raiders are two points outside the top eight with three matches to play.
But given Canberra’s percentage (-31) is significantly worse than the eighth-placed Sydney Roosters (121), it means nothing less than three wins and other results falling their way can lead to a play-offs berth.
Newcastle welcome the Raiders to McDonald Jones Stadium having lost five of their past six matches and with centre Bradman Best and winger Enari Tuala stood down for disciplinary reasons.
The Knights are also dealing with another off-field issue after sidelined pair Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann were filmed being escorted out of a toilet cubicle at a Newcastle pub on Saturday.
Adam O’Brien has named Krystian Mapapalangi to make his NRL debut and Papalii said the Raiders would be foolish to take the undermanned Knights lightly.
“I’ve been in that situation before with the club where we’re not playing for finals spots but you can come out and ruin a few teams,” he said.
“Newcastle have that this week. They’ve got nothing to lose.
“They’re probably going to debut a few younger players and come out and just play footy.
“We’ve got to be wary that they’re going to throw the ball around a bit more. We’ve just got to be ready for that.”
