Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart. Source: News Limited
THE second coming of a local hero started in Canberra on Thursday.
Ricky Stuart conducted his first training session as Raiders head coach, 15 years after leaving the club as a player for Canterbury.
''It's good to be back and to get into it,'' Stuart said.
Key players Terry Campese, Edrick Lee, David Shillington, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Jack Wighton and Reece Robinson were among those to kick-start the club's pre-season program.
Players completed medicals, testing, introductions and worked on treadmills. Field work will commence on Friday.
''It's important we start together as one,'' Stuart said. ''They're a close bunch of blokes here so a lot of that work's been done.
''You don't need individuals, you need to be a group, and that's something we'll work towards before Christmas.
''We want a nice strong bond. We need individuals to perform on game day but as group we want to be together.
''We'll leave the past to where it is and move forward. If they'd not had that strength of character among the group (last season), they might not have got through it as well as they did.''
Canberra is among the strongest NRL clubs when it comes to youth and potential.
''The retention of our youth is really important. It's a major focus,'' Stuart said.
''The club's done a really good job in regards to their development and retention of younger players and the pathways they've created.
''It's important we keep those boys in the club and make them our future. I want them to want to be here - that's important.''
However, Stuart's immediate focus will centre on retaining brilliant youngster Anthony Milford.
Raiders management want to pay Milford $1m a year to fend off the Broncos and keep the star rookie in the ACT.
''We've made our stance very clear. All the games in the world can be played but we've got a stance and we're going to stand by it,'' he said.
''We've had great contact with his manager. It's a situation of Anthony's manager sitting down with the club when he (Milford) gets back (from the World Cup).
''Let him do what he does best - and that's play football at the World Cup.
''We're not thinking about Anthony going (to Brisbane). All we're thinking about and planning for is Anthony to be here in 2014.''
New Canberra assistant coach Dean Pay was excited at the looming season.
''The Raiders are a team with a lot of talent and a lot potential and hopefully we can get that potential out of them,'' Pay said.
''We are looking forward to getting the best out of these players.
''I think, by their own standards, they haven't performed to the best they could have in the past for one reason or another.''
31 Oct, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/ricky-stuart-conducts-first-training-session-as-coach-of-canberra-raiders/story-fndv2wef-1226750533284?from=public_rss
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