Raiders have moved on from loss: Stuart

Ricky Stuart says Canberra's first-round NRL loss to Gold Coast will not have a lasting impact on the team going into their clash with Newcastle.

Raiders players look on following a try from the Gold Coast Titans

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says emotions have been kept in check after their round one NRL loss. (AAP)

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says emotions have been kept in check at the Raiders following their first-round NRL defeat.

After leading 18-0 early against Gold Coast, the Green Machine went down at the death by two points in devastating fashion.

For Raiders fans, the 30-28 result evoked painful memories of the 2017 campaign, where they lost eight games by six points or less.

Stuart says his team has moved on and all their attention is on Sunday night's clash with Newcastle at GIO Stadium.

"After playing so well and then losing on the back end of a game, it can knock you around so it's important to deal with it," Stuart said on Friday.

"We've spoken about it this week and straight after the game so I've got no dramas that it will have any effect going into the game."

Stuart confirmed Joe Tapine would miss up to four weeks after the forward dislocated his thumb against the Titans.

But the Canberra boss was confident Elliott Whitehead would give the Raiders a boost at No.12 despite his importance as a loose forward.

"Elliott is excited to move back out on the edge, which is probably his preferred position, but he does such a great job in the middle he makes us a better football team with him there," Stuart said.

Stuart tipped starting hooker Silvia Havili to gradually see more game time after the former St George Illawarra player made a perfect start to his Raiders debut.

Tasked with filling the hole left by Josh Hodgson, he scored a try in the third minute of the game to begin Canberra's early lead.

"The more matches he gets the more game time he'll get," Stuart said.

"He'll become more used to the players and more accustomed to that role for us."


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.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world