Source : ABC NEWS
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart insists the Raiders are not panicking after making a poor start to the NRL season.
The Raiders, who won the minor premiership last year, are 1-3 (win-loss) through the opening four rounds.
Their attack has struggled to fire in 2026, with the Raiders scoring just 16.8 points per match as compared to their 26.7 average last season.
The Raiders sit 15th on the ladder, with their only win coming courtesy of a golden-point field goal by Ethan Sanders in a 29-28 victory over Manly in round one.
Despite the Raiders’ troubles, Stuart said his team’s attitude had not shifted.
“I’ve been in worse positions than this,” Stuart said.
“We’ll get through it because they’re a resilient bunch. There’s probably more panic outside than there is inside.
“It’s round five. It’s not going to be the only difficult period that we go through this year.”
The Raiders are focusing their attention on the fifth-placed Knights, who they will play in front of an expected sold-out crowd in Newcastle on Sunday.
In a major boost, Canberra will welcome back inspirational captain Josh Papali’i from suspension.
“He’s an important part of the team,” Stuart said.
“That little bit of experience is always beneficial, especially through a difficult period like we’re in at the moment.”
AAP
