NRL: Ricky Stuart supports rivals resting players even if the ploy could cost Canberra its season

Rivals resting players in the final round could cost Canberra a finals berth, but Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has no issues with teams sitting their stars because they’ve “earned the right”.

You could understand if Stuart was filthy that Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is resting a host of big names this weekend given the Raiders need the Storm to beat Cronulla to make the top eight.

Instead, he has no issues given he did the same thing against the Sharks in the final round last season when the Raiders had secured a finals position.

“I think if you’ve earned the position to rest players this week, well, good on you,” Stuart said, with more than 25 stars to sit out this weekend’s final regular season round.

“I was criticised last year for debuting so many young players and we went out and beat the Sharks.

“There wasn’t much criticism after it.

“I mean, if we want to start criticising coaches for resting players to give them the best shot of winning a semi-final, it is pretty disappointing because you are doing everything you can to win a semi-final.

“If that means resting players, well, you’ve earned the opportunity to do that throughout a very tough season.

“We’ve got a game that wants to expand and go and find another club in Brisbane. Don’t you think it is a positive that we can rest players and give another young guy a chance to play first grade?”

The NRL has been urged to follow in the AFL’s footsteps and introduce a bye before the finals to prevent clubs from resting players in the final round.

However, Stuart believes a pre-finals bye could impact the momentum of in-form sides heading into the playoffs.

“Some coaches might disagree and think they don’t want to break the routine. Form going into the semi-finals is very important,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are yet to make a call on Sia Soliola’s future as the legendary forward faces the prospect of playing in his last NRL game against his former club the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.

Raiders players, led by back-rower Elliott Whitehead, pushed for Soliola to play in the final round after he missed last weekend’s game following his mother’s passing.

The 35-year-old is off-contract at season’s end, and Stuart confirmed the big man’s status beyond 2021 hadn’t been finalised.

“He has had a very, very distinguished career, but I’m yet to sit down with Sia,” Stuart said.

“It is a really important part of the season, and those discussions will be had a later date.

“But it is important that everyone fulfils their role, and as a coach you know exactly what you are going to get from a guy like Sia defensively and in attack.

“The boys all look up to Sia. They all call him uncle and it is the type of respect that he has earnt.”

Elliott’s desperation to ensure Soliola takes on the Roosters just in case the Raiders fail to win and make the finals is evidence of the high esteem he is held in.

Canberra needs to beat the Tricolours and hope Cronulla loses to Melbourne and the Titans lose to the Warriors to have any chance of making the top eight.

It’s why the Raiders players don’t want to risk Soliola not playing in the final round with a potential retirement on the cards.

Stuart couldn’t be prouder of his players for putting a club icon first.

“I thought it was a nice gesture yesterday after a meeting with the senior players wanted to push that Sia was playing,” he said.

“He had a rough week last week, but I thought it was a great show of mateship that Sia was there. A few of the other boys were a bit unlucky (to miss out), but they understood the situation.

“We always talk about team and that was a great little piece of evidence that they are nice and strong, and they’ve got a good bond.”

Stuart couldn’t wipe the smile off his face when he was asked to describe the impact Soliola has made on and off the field.

“He can be trusted,” Stuart said about the 337-game veteran if you include his five-year Super League stint with St Helens.

“I’ve known Sia since he was 17 when I first started coaching him at the Roosters.

“He went away and since coming back he has been a rock behind the scenes here at the club for me.

“I bounce a lot of things off Sia, and I can trust him on the field as well.”