With the Raiders nosediving after four straight losses and the players craving sunnier locales like Bradford, the euphoric days in Canberra of grand finals and tormenting Melbourne are starting to feel like a distant memory.
Inevitable questions have been raised in the nation’s capital in the wake of the Raiders’ recent slump, with the dire losing streak raising suspicions the side may have either lost its mojo, or gained Josh McGuire.
Naturally this has compounded pressure on coach Ricky Stuart, with the lacklustre performances triggering speculation his golden age may be ending with losing the dressing room and/or gaining the full support of the board.
Despite commencing the season as one of the competition’s heavyweights, an increasingly desperate Stuart appears unable to stem the Green Machine’s unravelling with his usual trusty methods of more sprays and Englishmen.
This has been exacerbated by a series of off-field dramas that have only served to fuel notions the mutually enamoured union may have reached its shelf life, much like the final state of a big bath of lime milk marinating a naked Terry Campese.
These include George Williams requesting a release and people’s champion Josh Papalii taking leave after revealing “football is not my priority at the moment”, a concession that would usually infuriate a coach, if only it wasn’t coming down from Josh Papalii.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
This was worsened by Josh Hodgson revealing he no longer wanted the captaincy, and after being subsequently linked with the Bulldogs and Broncos, he probably no longer wanted the ball either.
Anxiety then spiked with the treasonous Joe Tapine Instagram affair, an incident that triggered fury among diehard fans of the Raiders and grammar alike.
In an impassioned defence of her beau after he spent 50 minutes on the pine, Tapine’s partner Kirsten pleaded with Stuart to better utilise his interchange by posting “Refs call count means jak [sic] when coaches are [rubbish bin emoji].”
Raiders fans were in furious agreement with the accusations of his gross under-usage, but only because none of these interchanges were used to permanently bench Jarrod Croker.
It was a spat that reinforced Stuart as rugby league’s most bristly character, a man who can pick a blue anywhere, even social media – despite not being on any platform whatsoever.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
But despite rumours of a fierce dressing down for Tapine at training, Stuart ultimately poured cold water on the feud by conceding he was only upset the feedback was not communicated via his preferred medium, that being ‘textas’.
Nevertheless, it has posed serious questions for Canberra. Is there player unrest towards Stuart? Has his message lost impact? And is Kirsten available as an assistant coach if technology could communicate a rubbish bin emoji via headset?
A messy ending for Stuart and the Raiders would be the latest in a long line of theatrical divorces for the former halfback, and a tragic way to extinguish a dynasty that beckoned years of playing finals and being repeatedly shrifted by Ben Cummins.
For those unaware, Stuart’s coaching arc usually begins with acute spikes of emotional synergy and a two-or-three-year afterglow, before neatly concluding with a series of $10,000 fines and an update to his honour board of lifelong foes.
However, there are positive signs this time may not mirror the last. He turned around a similar funk in 2017, he’s a sacred old boy, and the Raiders don’t discard coaches like single-use plastic and the Wests Tigers.
Additionally, there’s plenty of serviceable personnel remaining in the playing group and a fine replacement for Hodgson in the shape of Tom Starling, a talent who has proven his tenacity by surviving finals footy and a Central Coast house party.
Joey
Guest
Dane, sad truth is McGuire isn’t there. Hasn’t signed with Canberra just yet, ....although he does have a phone so I’m not totally convinced Pirate Pete isn’t also .. Raider Rat. Maybe he’s also Tapine’s missus - trying to get Joe sacked, to then come knockin’ for another job? If only Batman and Robin were still around, they’d surely be able to solve this one - if I haven’t.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah, it would have to be in the minority.
GregM
Roar Rookie
the best players don't always make the best coaches.
Riggs
Guest
I was at Wagga yesterday. Didn’t see much fire in the belly from the players, body language was not inspiring even at 16-0. Can say haven’t had much luck, but the Roosters have had worse luck and still look finals bound. What cha got Canberrra? The milk is spilt, gonna cry or clean up this mess and become a force again?
Watda
Guest
When milk turns green, it is probably past it’s use by date!
Walter Black
Guest
He may have empathy for his players but does he have the respect ? Bellamy has empathy but he also commands enormous respect which I think is a key difference. I don't think Bellamy was ever a captain either but he has that unique ability of being the Father figure that no one ever wants to disappoint. I had a headmaster at school who could reduce a kid to tears by offering them a cup of tea. No kid ever wanted to visit that headmaster having done something wrong and getting the cup of tea of shame. I think Bellamy is a bit like that.
Tony
Roar Guru
One of your best, cheesy but good.
Randy
Roar Rookie
I think Stuart has too much empathy with his players. Difference is Bellamy and Bennett have the ability to see when something they are doing isn't working and fix it, Stuart doesn't. He will blame all and sundry for his teams woes before he admits that it might be his own poor tactics and coaching that is the problem. In saying that he has "fixed" this team before, it took him 2 seasons but he did fix them.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
" The Milky Ones" . Geez that'll do me .
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
If they lose to Newcastle, then yes. They've curdled.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Walter. I wrote a response here hours ago but must have failed to press send. I think he a good tactical football brain, just a prickly character. Maybe be more suited in a setup as an assistant, don’t seem to have the Bennett and Bellamy ‘empathy’ with players. But I’m Guessing. He was mostly ‘not’ the captain in his playing days wasn’t he? I’m sure he had input and cracked a team mate for stuff, but another guy inspiring to lift and such. But like Paul had said, I’m waiting for the announcement ‘he has full support of the board’
AnonLurker
Roar Rookie
Funny how if this happened at tigers - club in crisis from mainstream media and coach and club would get smashed ... somehow not the case here
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Ricky is always good for some good natured banter and derision - he wears his heart on his sleeve and is a bit of a prickly character - so he's a fair sized target. And I'm sure most Raiders supporters have mixed views on Ricky as a coach. We've queried some of his team selections and use of the bench for starters - and get as tired as everyone else when he starts the ref blame game. A bit of ownership for the team's predicament by the coach as well as the players wouldn't go astray. But its hard to ignore the fact that he has made preliminary finals in 2016 and 2020 and a Grand Final in 2019 with this team. Before he arrived the Raiders were a bit of a basket case. If the Raiders can string a few wins together I'm sure the haters will go back into their boxes until its safe to come out again.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The voice of reason from Shadow.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I was hoping to see the Milky ones win another title but it looks like a long way off now. They still have a strong roster if injury free and in form but I've been concerned about the outside backs for a while now and suggest that a team like the Storm would have tapped Croker on the shoulder a couple of years ago and let Rapana sign with someone else. The team desperately needs some strike players .
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Nice one Dane. Although I think the root cause lies deeper, a little known condition referred to as Craig’s Curse or Melopause. It’s when a player struggles to find their rhythm at The Storm, and are allowed to leave to another club without the Storm resisting. The player then finds themselves at a stage in their life where the surroundings are unfamiliar and they start to miss the angry man. They then become agitated, emotional and impact those around them, making their new team look disoriented and uncoordinated. Curtis Scott has the rare condition, as has Brodie Croft, and Will Chambers appears to have a second dose.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
“Soured milk”. They will just have to find a “whey” to win.
Paul
Roar Guru
"his golden age may be ending with losing the dressing room and/or gaining the full support of the board." Yep, Ricky's screwed if he gains the full support of the Board. What he badly needs is to lose games thanks to refs calls (real or imagined). He can stack up the $10k fines along with the guilt points,which should guarantee him a contract extension - or a trip to enjoy the sunshine in Bradford.
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Ricky is usually associated with sour grapes not sour milk. The solution... buy more milk? :silly:
Shadow
Roar Rookie
Ricky is normally associated with sour grapes not sour milk. The solution? Buy more milk? :silly: