Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has hit back at accusations from Maori All Stars mentor Adam Blair that he pressured Raiders players into missing last weekend’s pre-season game due to injury fears.
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After leading the Maori All Stars to a 10-6 victory over the Indigenous team in Sydney on Saturday evening, Blair called for the NRL to police player availability for the annual contest, namechecking the Raiders as a culprit.
The former New Zealand representative declared that Canberra prop Joe Tapine would have been selected for the All Stars clash had he been available, sparking debate over the event’s scheduling.
“The more they hold everyone accountable then it becomes easier for the clubs to go, ‘Well, the game says you have to play – unless you’re injured – you go and play’,” Blair said.
“There’s so many talented players that could’ve been here but due to pressures… for example, I love our Canberra boys and we could have taken five or six of them and put them in our squad.
“But I get it … those are five of Canberra’s best players.”
In response, Stuart has slammed Blair for questioning the Raiders’ support for the All Stars contest, rejecting that he encouraged players to miss the match. The 58-year-old instead claimed the Raiders, who will soon fly to Las Vegas for their NRL season opener, had not been contacted by the Maori camp about any of Canberra’s players.
Stuart also said that Blair’s “childish” comments had tarnished the club’s relationship with the All Stars fixture, which he believes is played at the “wrong time of the season”.
“It was ridiculous. It was a childish comment, it comes from a very inexperienced coach. He’s obviously coaching the way he used to play, very selfishly,” Stuart said.
“This club still has not got an email asking for any of the boys to play in the Maori football team. Blair has really tarnished our relationship with that game.
“That game is played at the wrong end of the season, for a start. I’m probably the only courageous one who will actually say that. I enjoy the game, I like watching the game, but it’s played at the wrong time of the season.
“For Blair to come out and say that, when he didn’t even communicate with this club, is wrong. It comes from an inexperienced person who is trying to coach.”
Stuart continued: “Anyone with an ounce of knowledge about rugby league would know how dedicated and proud the Canberra Raiders are in regards to supporting the development and opportunity to play at the highest level of our Maori, Pasifika and Indigenous players,’’ Stuart said.
“Our longstanding support and absolute understanding how special the NRL All Stars game is has been deeply tarnished by these naive comments from an inexperienced person.
“This proud club does more for our Maori, Pasifika and Indigenous players than Adam Blair would ever do and will ever know of.
“Our players made a decision not to play by themselves, many of which without our knowledge due to the way the Maori team conducted their communication.
“I’m fairly sure we all agree the All Stars concept is wonderful, but it is played at the wrong time of the year.
“To say we’re disappointed by the comments made by Adam Blair is an understatement.”
The Raiders will face the Warriors at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, March 2 at 11am AEDT.
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