Ricky Stuart adamant Canberra Raiders won’t be ‘used up’ in City-Country farce

THE final City-Country has descended into an absolute farce with Ricky Stuart adamant he won’t allow his Raiders to be ‘used up’ in an exhibition match ‘mockery’.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart reacts during the Round 8 NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Friday, April 21, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

THE final City-Country has descended into an absolute farce with Ricky Stuart adamant he won’t allow the Canberra Raiders to be “used up” in an exhibition match “mockery”.

For years Stuart has been a great supporter of bush footy and has always encouraged his players to strive to play rep football.

But after the NRL admitted it was powerless to stop Canterbury’s blanket ban, Stuart has told The Daily Telegraph he has a responsibility to take a stand for his club.

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“I didn’t make the mockery of the City-Country match, other people have,” Stuart said.

The Raiders play the Bulldogs Saturday night at ANZ Stadium and already the Bulldogs have told the NRL their players won’t be allowed to back up for the match on Sunday week in Mudgee.

Raiders skipper Croker has played for Country twice.

While Canterbury has a four-day turnaround ahead of their home game against North Queensland the following Thursday night, Stuart said he made the exact same request last year but was denied.

“I asked for my players not to be picked (last year) and it fell on deaf ears,” Stuart said.

This year Canberra do not play until the following Sunday after City-Country.

But given travel times they would not be able to train until the Wednesday before leaving for Newcastle on Friday.

ARL Commission chairman John Grant has already conceded the game’s governing body was unable to stop clubs blocking players due to the current rules where players must be rested from club games only on the same weekend.

“There’s no rules that we’ve got that we can bring to bear to actually force players to play. And we are not about to do that,” Grant said this week.

Halfback Aidan Sezer made his rep debut for City last season.

“At the end of the day, the clubs are responsible for the players’ welfare and they need to take into account all the other stuff that’s in play at the time.”

There is a very real chance every member of the Raiders’ starting side could be named to play in the rep round.

With Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker eligible for Country, The Daily Telegraph understands teenage rookie winger Nick Cotric, who has only played eight NRL games, is also right in the reckoning to be picked.

The Raiders also have Joey Leilua, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and Junior Paulo in contention for City selection.

On top of that, they will lose Josh Papalii and Shannon Boyd (Australia), Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead (England), while Jordan Rapana and Joe Tapine are likely to be in the New Zealand squad.

Stuart said he would not stand in the way of his players representing their respective countries.

Austin scored three tries on debut for City two years ago.

But asked if players would be available for City-Country, Stuart said: “Is that a genuine selection trial?

“I don’t want my players playing in exhibition matches and be put in a position of being injured and disadvantaging my club, for the club’s sake and all of our supporters’ sake.

“I have had players play in this game for the last three, four, five years who are never, ever serious contenders for NSW.

“They are just being used up, year in and year out.

“Blake Austin scored three tries for City the year before last and there wasn’t a breath of his name.

“And if they are not good enough they are not good enough, but I don’t want them selected.”