Is there accountability for poor results at the Canberra Raiders? SEN host Andrew Voss has his doubts.
Star forward Josh Papalii has endured a rough trot of form to start the season and has been officially rested for this Thursday’s clash with the Rabbitohs.
Despite coach Ricky Stuart telling media that Papalii was ‘rested’ many believe he was dropped after struggling to find consistency in his performance this year.
Voss told The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio that he doesn’t believe it’s a good sign if the club isn’t willing to openly admit their star player is dropped.
“Is there accountability at Canberra?,” Voss asked on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“This ‘standing down’ of players, why not say dropped?
“Isn’t that accountability if you say to Josh Papalii you have been dropped? Let that be known publicly.
“I don’t think there’s accountability if you say you’re resting players seven weeks into a season.”
While Voss views it as a bad look, Riccio believes it wouldn’t make a difference internally knowing how Stuart interacts with his playing group.
“I don’t know if the message coming out publicly would be much different than it coming from Ricky Stuart internally,” Riccio responded.
“Knowing how Ricky Stuart operates, he’d be sitting those players down, face to face, declaring that they have been dropped.
“I get it where you’re coming from publicly, but I don’t think internally anyone wouldn’t know where they stand in the final 17 at the Raiders.”
Canberra will look to improve on their 3-4 record when they face South Sydney at Gio Stadium on Thursday night.