‘Your interchanges are killing us’: Raiders star’s wife takes swipe at Ricky Stuart on social media

Joe Tapine’s wife has questioned the bench rotation of underperforming Canberra coach Ricky Stuart in the wake of their recent loss.

Kirsten Tapine with Raiders star and husband Joe Tapine

The wife of Raiders lock Joe Tapine has questioned the bench rotation of underperforming Canberra coach Ricky Stuart in the wake of their loss to South Sydney.

Kirsten Tapine posted a critical message of Stuart on her Instagram story in the wake of the Raiders’ fourth straight loss.

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Stuart has continued to make changes to his team over the last few weeks.

Josh Papalii was rested this week, while captains Jarrod Croker and Josh Hodgson have battled injury.

Tapine was dropped ahead of his side’s loss to North Queensland and returned against South Sydney on Thursday.

He was only introduced 25 minutes into the contest before coming from the field at the 50-minute mark.

Tapine later returned with eight minutes left when the Raiders were attempting to mount a comeback.

It was one of a number of confusing decisions Stuart made on Thursday.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart (R) talks with Joseph Tapine

The Raiders coach, who admitted he “stuffed up” his bench against the Eels a fortnight ago by not carrying an outside back, only gave Sia Soliola nine minutes of gametime and afforded Ryan James just the 23 opening minutes of the game.

Kirsten highlighted Stuart’s decisions on social media: “You have an international player warming your bench for 50 minutes … Your interchanges are killing us!!!

“Refs call count means jak (sic) when coaches are (rubbish bin emoji).”

Kirsten Tapine's post on Instagram

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Stuart had complained about the officiating of Canberra’s loss to the Souths given the Raiders had just one penalty to the Rabbitohs’ eight.

“This has been happening a lot this year to us,” Stuart said.

“I look like the whinger, which I don’t really give a s**t about being labelled the whinger.

“But when you get a game out there where it’s eight to one in penalties, I just think that probably needs a discussion.

“The ruck was so slow tonight. I can’t believe it was only seven.

“It probably sounds like it, but I’m not being disrespectful to Souths. They’re playing good footy at the moment and I thought we equalled the performance tonight.”

Canberra have just three wins from their first eight games and now face Newcastle in Wagga Wagga and Canterbury at Magic Round over the next fortnight with their season on the line.

Originally published as ‘Your interchanges are killing us’: Raiders star’s wife takes swipe at Ricky Stuart on social media