Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has thrown his support behind fullback Chevy Stewart after the rookie had a difficult first half against the Broncos.
Stewart struggled with handling bombs from Broncos halfback Jock Madden, dropping one that almost resulted in a try by Selwyn Cobbo. He repeated the mistake in the 19th minute, leading to Ezra Mam scoring after kicking ahead.
Despite his early struggles, Stewart showed resilience and fought hard throughout the game, notably bouncing back after a big hit from Kobe Hetherington. Stuart highlighted Stewart’s second-half performance as evidence of his potential as a serious NRL player.
Stuart emphasized that Stewart’s toughness was evident in how he handled himself in the second half despite the challenges. He expressed confidence in Stewart’s future in the NRL, acknowledging that mistakes are part of the learning curve for young players.
Stuart’s halftime message to Stewart was straightforward: he challenged the rookie to demonstrate his NRL potential in the next 40 minutes by his response to adversity. Stuart emphasized that the team and senior players would be patient with Stewart as the Raiders transitioned with a youthful lineup in key positions.
Stuart acknowledged Stewart’s age, emphasizing that he is only 18 years old and still in high school. Despite the tough night, Stuart remains optimistic about Stewart’s growth and future in the NRL.
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