Ricky Stuart admits the decision to axe former representative winger Nick Cotric was a hard one, but says it’s the type of tough call that could make his Canberra team “special”.
Instead of the more experienced, former NSW and Australia talent Cotric, Stuart has opted for Albert Hopoate and Xavier Savage on wings for Saturday’s home clash with Wests Tigers.
It was the one change to a Green Machine outfit that upset Newcastle 28-12 last weekend, with the return of Kiwi centre Sebastian Kris from suspension forcing Hopoate to the wing.
But rather than a changing of the guard moment for Cotric, whose contract is up at the end of the season, Stuart said the competition for spots should spur on his troops.
“Successful teams have got healthy squads, special teams at the back end of the season have got players pushing one another at training, and players pushing one another for positions,” he said.
“At the moment, that’s what we’ve got.
“That was a very hard decision between ‘Hoppa’ and Nick … it’s not as though Nick was poor, it was a decision I made after Albert’s performance.
“(Hopoate’s) workload last week was enormous, and it wasn’t the flashy carries, it was the tough carries.”
Stuart said Cotric’s path back to first grade could be summed up in one word – “performing” – although that will have to be in training given the winger won’t play NSW Cup this weekend.
Having defied bookmakers’ opinions to roll the Knights last weekend, the Raiders’ next challenge is to win when most expect them to do so in a favourable contest at home against the Tigers.
After completing sets at 87 per cent in Newcastle, a similarly solid display was on the top of Stuart’s agenda.
“Every win boosts the spirits, we always enjoy the week after a win, but it’s only round one and we need to leave that behind us now,” he said.
“It wasn’t as surprising for us as it was for a lot of people, we went there very confidently, but now it’s well and truly past us.
“Early in the season you’ve got to be good at all the fundamentals of the game, and I thought we were last week.”
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
