Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says Raiders probably won’t get a player picked for NSW Blues

RICKY Stuart is not a fan of Origin selection debates but he says Canberra probably won’t get a player picked for NSW this year, and it doesn’t bother him.

Jack Wighton is one of many Raiders players likely to be snubbed for the Blues.

RICKY Stuart says Canberra probably won’t get a player picked for NSW this year, “and it doesn’t bother me one bit”.

Leading into Saturday night’s highly anticipated showdown with the in-form Warriors who boast the entire New Zealand Test spine, there are seven Raiders in contention for Laurie Daley’s Origin squad.

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Daley this week named a 52-man list of players that included Canberra’s Shannon Boyd, Junior Paulo, Jack Wighton, Joey Leilua, Jarrod Croker, Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer.

Jack Wighton in action for the Raiders. Picture: AAP

But it looks like only Boyd is a genuine chance for the Blues after getting a Kangaroo call-up on last year’s Four Nations tour.

Asked if it bothers him that his players don’t seem to be in the mix, Stuart responded: “We probably won’t get a player picked and it doesn’t bother me one bit.

“Look, I’m not comfortable talking about representative football because I know how hard it is as a representative coach and Laurie is a mate of mine.

Jarrod Croker is unlikely to be picked for the Blues. Picture: AAP

“But it will probably be like every other year.

“They will just use us up in the City-Country and the exhibition games.”

Stuart said Wighton was the perfect example of a player who does not get the recognition he deserves outside the club.

Aidan Sezer has been excelling for the Raiders. Picture: Getty Images

“But he gets the recognition from the people most important and that is his coaches and his teammates,” Stuart said.

The Warriors clash marks Wighton’s 100th NRL game and Joey Tapine’s 50th.

While 22-year-old Tapine has already tasted Test football for New Zealand, 24-year-old Wighton is still waiting for his shot but seems to be rated behind a long list of NSW No. 1s.

Raiders prop Shannon Boyd is Canberra’s best chance of a Blues call-up. Picture: Getty Images

“You could throw them all in,” Stuart added about Wighton.

“We wouldn’t swap Jack for any other fullback in the game. I am genuine about that.

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t believe it. But like Jack, I don’t care that no one else rates him.”

Stuart does rate the Warriors who go into the game after back-to-back wins that have coincided with Kieran Foran’s arrival.

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With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback, Shaun Johnson partnering Foran in the halves and Issac Luke at hooker, the Warriors boast an all-star spine that appears certain to be selected for the Kiwis in the upcoming Test against the Kangaroos on May 5.

“The Warriors are a very good team,” Stuart said.

“I know this is going to be our biggest challenge of the season so far and that is how we have prepared for it.”