Canberra coach Ricky Stuart promises rebuild at Raiders like he did at Eels
Date
May 24, 2014 - 9:46PM
Chris Wilson
Sports editor at The Canberra Times
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says he is happy to watch Parramatta's resurgence this season, adding he did a "good job" initiating the rebuild at the Eels as he pushes for sweeping changes to the Canberra roster.
The Raiders will rev-up talks with Melbourne Storm forward Kevin Proctor, Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco and Penrith winger Josh Mansour this week, and have also declared interest in trying to lure Bulldogs State of Origin hooker Michael Ennis to the capital.
Stuart enraged many Eels fans when he quit the club at the end of last year, one season into a three-year deal, after sacking 12 players on Parramatta's roster.
The Eels have already won six matches this year, more than during last year's wooden-spoon finish under Stuart. But Stuart has forecast bold changes at the Raiders, too, saying he needs to rebuild.
"I've been through it in my last three jobs Parramatta, Cronulla and obviously NSW have all been rebuilding,'' Stuart told ABC radio. "I understand fans' frustrations, but I can't let that tinker with the way I'm thinking with regards to rebuilding here. We've got our plan put together ... we will get there.
"I'm happy when I see Parramatta winning because I know I did the right thing there and I know I did a good job. That's not taking anything away or being disrespectful to their coach, Brad Arthur, he's doing a really good job and I compliment him.
"But I like seeing them play well and I like seeing them win because the decisions I made there are decisions I have to make here in regards to the balance of a team, the quality of player ... in rebuilding a football team, there are two things that have got to happen: one is time and two it's big decisions."
The Raiders want an answer from Proctor this week Canberra and the Dragons are reported to be the biggest bidders for the Kiwi international.
The Raiders also intend to put offers to Tedesco and Mansour this week, after the pair toured Canberra's facilities on Thursday. The Raiders have also shown interest in talking to Ennis.
The Raiders have cash to spend, given they have not found big-name replacements for representative players Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson sacked last year while fullback Anthony Milford has rejected a huge offer to defect to the Brisbane Broncos from next year.
There will need to be casualties on the roster. Former State of Origin forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs is poised to leave the club before the June 30 deadline this season. The St George Illawarra Dragons are favourites to snare him.
Winger Reece Robinson and utility Josh McCrone are the two highest-profile Raiders off-contract, and Canberra is in talks to retain NSW Country representative McCrone.
It is almost certain utility Joel Thompson will also quit his three-year deal at the Dragons to return to Canberra next season.
Canberra's increased activity in the player market also indicates a potential shift in focus for a club that has traditionally depended on developing juniors.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner vented frustration at the NRL that junior concessions were not included in the recent revamp of the salary cap.
Centre Matt Allwood is the latest Raiders junior to leave the club, signing for the Warriors next year, and Furner said Canberra would review whether it continues to spend big on junior development.
"Everything will be coming under review and we've told the NRL that," Furner said on ABC. "It is disappointing because there isn't huge reward for putting money into juniors. We're active in the recruitment market and we'll continue to be in the next couple of weeks."
The Raiders will not appeal Stuart's $10,000 fine for criticising the refereeing in last Sunday's loss to Penrith.
