Lottoland surface concerns Raiders' Stuart

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart admits he's worried about his NRL team playing on Lottoland's unreliable surface.

cky Stuart

Coach Ricky Stuart has concerns over the playing surface for Canberra's away match against Manly. (AAP)

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says he has "massive concerns" about Lottoland's surface before the Raiders' NRL clash with Manly.

The Raiders lost Dunamis Lui to a torn anterior cruciate ligament at the ground last season, one of several injuries at the venue in recent years.

Sydney Roosters winger Brett Morris blamed the surface for a knee injury he suffered last month.

Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is nursing a knee injury and Stuart admitted he was worried for his players.

"It's a massive concern. We've had some poor luck there before with an ACL to Dunamis Lui and Shannon Boyd did a medial," Stuart said.

"It's a real concern for me."

An NRL pre-season game and an A-League match were abandoned at Lottoland this year due to poor pitch conditions, but the Northern Beaches Council has pledged $1.2 million to fix the surface.

The upgrade will include new turf, improved drainage and new irrigation in a bid to keep professional football being played at the historic ground.

Stuart said the surface wasn't his only concern before Sunday's round seven clash, labelling Sea Eagles halfback Daley Cherry-Evans one of the best playmakers in the game.

"He's probably the best in the competition at getting repeat sets. I've always admired Daley's ability, I thought he had an unfair tag on him in regards to Origin status," Stuart said.

"I've always seen him as a wonderful player who has had to bide his time to play Origin football.

"He's the backbone of their team and they ride on the back of Cherry-Evans.

"He's a real threat to our game."

Stuart said he won't play Nicoll-Klokstad unless he fullback is 100 per cent fit but expects the Kiwi to play and tipped Des Hasler's Manly to ensure a scrappy affair.

"They're a tough footy team. They will want to turn it into a really ugly style of game and we've got to go with it," Stuart said.

"It won't be a real attractive game of footy, we'll have to get down and dirty.

"We've just got to roll up our sleeves up and jump into it."


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world