We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has slammed Maori All Stars coach Adam Blair for suggesting Canberra's best players were pressured into missing the annual pre-season contest against the Indigenous All Stars held last weekend.
Stuart said Blair was "naive", ''inexperienced' and "selfish" for bringing into question the Raiders support for the growth and development of both Maori, Pasifika and Indigenous players.
Blair led the Māori to a 10-6 victory over the Indigenous team last...
The Canberra Raiders want UFC boss Dana White to blow the Viking horn in Las Vegas.
This masthead can reveal that overtures have been made with the UFC to have White perform the traditional ceremony before the Raiders play the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium.
The Raiders had initially planned to approach NFL legend Tom Brady but it is understood they couldn't make it happen. Enter White, who was in Sydney last week for a show at Qudos Bank Arena.
It is understood White spoke to Raiders back...
Ricky Stuart denies pressuring players to miss pre-season game, as accused by Maori All Stars coach.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has hit back at "ridiculous" 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.
"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.
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 if available, sparking debate about 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.