Ricky Stuart has fired back at "childish" accusations he pressured players to turn their back on the NRL All Stars game, declaring Maori coach Adam Blair has tarnished Canberra's relationship with the representative fixture.
Blair sparked a debate about the All Stars' place on the calendar after accusing the Raiders of convincing players to withdraw from the fixture, after claiming "five or six" of Canberra's stars could have featured in the side that beat their Indigenous counterparts in Sydney last weekend.
But Stuart has returned serve, saying the Raiders had not been contacted by the Maori camp about any of Canberra's stars - which could have included Raiders captain Joe Tapine - playing in this year's edition.
Stuart believes the All Stars fixture has a place on rugby league's calendar. For what it's worth, he has witnessed it live and knows how fondly players speak of the chance to connect with their culture, while the Raiders have often trumpeted the success of Indigenous and Maori players with the likes of
Ruben Wiki, John Lomax, Laurie Daley, and
Quentin Pongia trumpeted as Canberra greats.
Blair fired a shot at Canberra after saying Tapine would have been one of the first picked for the Maori side, until the Raiders captain put his club first ahead of the NRL season opener in Las Vegas.
The Canberra Times understands eligible Raiders players opted to make their own call about their All Stars status, with the group prioritising club commitments as they prepare to fly to Las Vegas on Thursday ahead of the NRL season opener.
"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 took exception to claims he was pressuring players to withdraw, with Tapine opting to make his own decision after speaking with family, having served as Maori captain in recent years.
Tapine is poised to lead the Raiders this season following the departure of Elliott Whitehead, with Stuart lauding the way the 30-year-old has taken to the captaincy role.
"He's just matured and grown so much over the past two years and, I must say, over the past six months in the way he has stepped up and taken this role with both hands," Stuart said.
"He's a guy the players love to be their leader, he'll always be the bloke out in front. He won't ask a player to do something he wouldn't do. We're very fortunate he's going to be a great captain for us."
