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I’m a Raiders fan and we’re tipped for the wooden spoon. This is essentially ‘situation normal’ for Raiders fans – if we’d finished last as often as we’ve been tipped to, the Raiders would have folded years ago.
Not only are we being tipped for a bottom finish, but this year there’s one very strong reason why we’re supposed to struggle – Ricky Stuart.
One of the most polarising coaches in the game’s history has come home, and as a result the Raiders are now on a track to certain failure.
I don’t buy it. I’m not a Stuart fanboi – I repeatedly told a Parramatta-supporting acquaintance the Eels were welcome to keep him before he signed with the Raiders – but the idea the Raiders are going to have a bad year because of Stuart is silly.
The implication of this idea is that Stuart is a worse coach than David Furner. Seriously, say that to yourself and try to keep a straight face.
I’m not entirely certain there is a worse coach than David Furner (maybe Steve Price?), and if there is I don’t think Stuart is it.
Yet, I agree with the doomsayers on one thing – the Raiders are in for a tough 2014.
Almost everywhere I look, the Raiders have problems, yet none of them are Stuart’s fault.
Firstly, there’s the spine. We’re relying on Anthony Milford to be focussed enough with a big contract at Brisbane awaiting him, and after an off-season of trying to wriggle his way out of his contract with the Raiders; Jack Wighton has to make the transition from the outside backs to the halves successfully; Terry Campese needs to play like he doesn’t think his knee is going to give way any minute; and a combination of Josh McCrone and Glen Buttriss are to solve the dummy-half woes that have plagued the Raiders for years.
That’s relying on far too much going well to expect a good season.
Secondly, our forwards are simply too damn big. When everything goes well, they can steamroll any team in the comp, but when they’ve got a lot of defence to do their lack of lateral movement and fatigue causes major problems.
To give Stuart his due, he seems to have worked hard over the off-season on rectifying this problem, as players have shed weight and hopefully will be fitter than under Furner.
However, I don’t see this as sufficient to fix the Raiders’ issues in the short term.
Come next year, with some of these players moved on, new players recruited, and another pre-season under Stuart, I can see our forward pack being better adapted for the NRL of 2015.
When the Raiders struggle, don’t blame Stuart. Blame the mess David Furner left him with.
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