Rivals prepared for 'classic Ricky Stuart ambush'

LAS VEGAS: The Warriors are preparing themselves for a classic Ricky Stuart ambush when their season kicks off in Vegas on Sunday (AEDT). The Kiwi team are hot favourites in the eyes of both the bookies and the punters for the huge season opener in Sin City, with little love for Canberra. But Stuart has been in this position many times before and Warriors coach Andrew Webster has warned his players that the ambush is a big danger. "I played for six seasons in Canberra so you don't need to tell me how they thrive in these situations," star fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad told Wide World of Sports. "They love been written off and having the underdog tag - it bonds them and they come out and lift their game. We have to stop that from happening." Webster began his NRL coaching career under Stuart at Parramatta and knows his team is in for a torrid afternoon at Allegiant Stadium. "Ricky is a good man and a fine coach and he knows how to get his boys firing in games like this ... it is a danger game for us, no question about it," Webster said. "We have to go in with the right attitude and can't afford to let them get on top early."

'Red flag' that should have Ricky's Raiders on edge

The Raiders have lost more than 600 games of top grade experience for 2024… and replaced it with very little.And that shapes as something of a red flag for the club as it attempts to replicate last season's feat of making the finals.Granted, Jarrod Croker (307 games - retired) probably hung up his boots at the right time and Matt Frawley (75 - Leeds Rhinos) wasn't a regular top grader, but the big loss is marquee player Jack Wighton (242 - Rabbitohs).The Raiders haven't come up with a signing capable of replacing Wighton, whose class and ability to shine in the big games allowed the Raiders to sneak into eighth spot last season with a late burst of wins.Manly recruit Kaeo Weekes is a promising kid but not ready for a starting spot in a long NRL season.Replacing Wighton as five-eighth and playmaker shapes as Ricky Stuart's biggest headache coming into the new season - and if he can't find the right man, the Raiders will struggle to play finals football in 2024.On the plus side, the Raiders have a formidable pack with the likes of Hudson Young, Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine, Corey Horsburgh, Corey Harawira-Naera and Elliott Whitehead giving them plenty of fire power up front.Young centre Matt Timoko was one of the big improvers of 2023 and shone in the Pacific Cup final rout of the Aussies in a performance that will boost his confidence.Jamal Fogarty is a cool head at half but not the kind of player who grabs a game by the throat and without Wighton by his side, he'll be under massive pressure to create chances for his outside men.

Sticky's masterstroke

Sebastian Kris' emergence as a top class fullback has proved a godsend for Ricky Stuart's Raiders in 2023.With the consistent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad quitting the club for the Warriors over the summer and his replacement Xavier Savage missing the early rounds through injury, Stuart needed to find a fullback in a hurry.He decided to gamble on specialist winger/centre Kris - and it has been a masterstroke.Kris has been returning Dylan Edwards-like running metres, averaging over 150 a game and returning a mammoth 247 in the golden point win over the Dolphins on Saturday afternoon.Kris notched a try as well and saved several dangerous situation in defence in another fine all-round display.

Stuart's Savage headache

Sebastian Kris went into the Raiders' clash against the Dragons as a man under the blowtorch.Kris knew his position in the Raiders' team was in jeopardy, with the highly-rated Xavier Savage making his return from a broken jaw in NSW Cup in the game immediately beforehand.But Kris gave coach Ricky Stuart a pleasant selection headache with a top-shelf display in the 20-14 defeat of the Dragons.Kris scored a try, ran for 185m and was safe under pressure in defence.The way he played, it will be very hard for Stuart to drop or move him from the key fullback position next week.

Raiders young gun blitzes through Bunnies

The Raiders have regained their mojo after Ricky Stuart challenged his men to lift three weeks ago when Jack Wighton was suspended for two games.The players responded, winning both games he missed and then thumping Souths in Dubbo yesterday for good measure.The Raiders played probably their best football in 12 months in disposing of a lethargic Souths side, leading 20-0 at halftime and then going on with the job after the break.

Four words that ended star winger's nightmare

It took just four words from Ricky Stuart to convince powerhouse winger Nick Cotric to return to Canberra over the off season.Cotric turns out for his 100th game for the Raiders tonight - ironically against the team where he had an ill-fated one year stint last season, the Bulldogs."Ricky called me late last year and he just said to me 'This is your home'," the 23-year-old wing flyer told Wide World of Sports."He said I grew up here and I belong here… I knew he was right."I'd just come off a bad year at the Bulldogs - I had toe and shoulder injuries that held me back."There were also personal reasons why I wanted to come back to Canberra and the Bulldogs were kind enough to release me."Cotric played just 14 games for Canterbury, scoring a mere three tries - well down on his strike rate in lime green in his 99 games for the club to date.And while the Raiders have had a poor start to this campaign, a win over the Bulldogs tonight could kick-start a revival that will put them back in finals contention."We've got a good roster and some real speed in the backline - we just have to put it all together," Cotric said.

What's wrong with Canberra?

If the Roosters are in a slump, the Raiders are at rock bottom.Saturday's defeat to the Warriors was the fifth loss in a row for Ricky Stuart's men - and it had a sickeningly familiar feeling to it.Once again the Raiders blew a good lead to go down on golden point.Canberra dictated terms in the first half and looked to be coasting to victory.But they failed to score in the second half as the Warriors chipped away at their lead to tie up scores 20-all at fulltime.The Raiders' body language in extra time wasn't good - they knew what was coming and sure enough Shaun 'Magic' Johnson slotted home the field goal to snatch victory for the Warriors.It was a fine turnaround by the Warriors, who were beaten by 60 points by the Storm a week earlier.

Stuart blasts 'pathetic' Raiders after loss

Ricky Stuart didn't hold back after the Raiders once again blew a double-digit lead against the Cowboys on Thursday night, describing several players' efforts as "pathetic" and "not NRL standard".Ricky didn't name names - but a quick analysis of the Raiders' stats shows the blokes mainly responsible for turning a 12-0 halftime lead into an 18-12 loss.Skipper Elliott Whitehead made eight runs for 52 metres, winger Semi Valamei also eight runs for 45 metres, back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera five runs for 43 metres and prop Emre Guler three runs for just 21 metres is a good starting point to the Raiders' demise.Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had a horror night before being injured with seven errors, while Whitehead added to his poor outing with four errors.It was the seventh time the Raiders have thrown away a double-digit lead in the past two seasons - the most in the NRL - and clearly all is not well in the nation's capital.