Ricky Stuart hits back at critics of ‘inexperienced’ Raiders outfit

The belief that Canbera lack experience against their grand final counterparts is off the mark, with the men from the nation’s capital boasting rep talent across the board that suggests they’re up for the fight.

Canberra have ten international players. Picture: Scott Barbour

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Canberra has given the two-finger salute to critics claiming the Raiders will crumble in Sunday’s grand final through a lack of grand final experience.

“We’ve been told all week we can’t win it,” Raiders coach Ricky Stuart told The Daily Telegraph. “And I keep getting told we are very inexperienced.”

Despite the club’s grand final inexperience, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Canberra actually has ten internationals in their side for Sunday’s big game.

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Canberra have ten international players. Picture: Scott Barbour

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They are: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Joey Leilua, Jordan Rapana, Josh Papalii, Josh Hodgson, Sia Soliola, John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead, Joe Tapine and Dunamis Lui.

It doesn’t end there.

Papalii, Jack Wighton and Nick Cotric have all played State of Origin while Wighton, Leilua, Jarrod Croker and Aidan Sezer have contested City-Country matches.

Asked was his side inexperienced, Stuart said: “We must be. The expectation on what we do it has been well and truly documented.”

John Bateman won a grand final with Wigan. Picture: Alex Livesey

Soliola (St Helens) and Bateman (Wigan) have also played Super League grand finals.

Bateman would become the first Englishman to win grand finals in successive years in different hemispheres.

“For me, as a coach, the competitor in John and that attitude of ‘must win’ is why I love coaching him,” Stuart said.

Stuart told a press conference earlier this season: “There are some players that want to win – others have to.”

It is now known that Stuart was referring to Bateman.

Elliott Whitehead has plenty of international experience. Picture: Craig Golding

“The whole Canberra forward pack has played for their countries,” said former Raiders champion, Laurie Daley. “Look that their team – they won’t be overawed.

“Bateman is a Pommy international, Tapine is a New Zealand international, Hodgson is an international, Papalii is an international, Whitehead is an international, Soliola is an international. Elliott Whitehead too.

“They have all played in massive games – there’s no drama there. They may not have enormous grand final experience but they have played in Tests, grand finals, semi-finals and Origin games.”

Raiders legend Mal Meninga warns fans not to dismiss Canberra’s chances through a perceived lack of experience.

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“Canberra has those Englishmen. Whilst they say Canberra is inexperienced, I would suggest someone like Bateman would have tonnes of experience in big games in the UK,” Meninga said.

“All those Origin and international games give you some steel about how to play big games. There are quite a few players there that have played internationals and Origin.

“That will add up and ensure they prepare really well. The Raiders will be underdogs but there are some fantastic players there with a lot of big game experience. Experience is important, there’s no doubt about it but you have to play one to get the experience.

“I’m sure with Ricky’s experience he will have the team well prepared from a coaching side. We hope their preparation is spot on-on, not over-the-top. They have to knuckle and down and get the job done.”

Originally published as Ricky Stuart hits back at critics of ‘inexperienced’ Raiders outfit