The critics are demanding a New South Wales cleanout for State of Origin III after another barren campaign but Ricky Stuart insists it's up to the current squad to "get themselves out of it."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the series lost after Wednesday's 26-16 loss to Queensland in Brisbane, many experts want wholesale changes, including handing a Blues debut to star Canberra centre Joey Leilua.
The dead rubber on July 13 in Sydney looks an ideal chance to blood new faces and trial new options after the Maroons clinched a tenth title in 11 years.
Leilua could come into contention after incumbent Blues centre Michael Jennings had a night to forget in Brisbane.
But Stuart, who coached NSW in 2005, 2011 and 2012, believes the current crop should see the job through this year.
"I think he [Leilua] is one of the form players of the competition, but Laurie [Daley, Blues coach] has picked his squad and they deserve to play the third game in regards to what they've got themselves into," Stuart said on ABC Radio on Saturday.
Stuart declined an invitation from Blues officials to bring Leilua into Origin II as a "development" player, pointing to the fact he had filled that role during his tenure.
Stuart's immediate focus is Canberra's crucial clash with surprise packets Gold Coast Titans in Queensland on Sunday.
The loser will drop out of the top eight but the Raiders have received a boost with forward Josh Papalii to back up after his finest display yet for Queensland.
It means there will be no room for dual Mal Meninga medallist Shaun Fensom, who was named 18th man after being squeezed out of the top side in recent weeks.
"It's a very difficult position. I never like leaving a person of his character or calibre out, it's very hard," Stuart said.
After a summer riddled with setbacks, the Titans have been one of the feel-good stories of the year.
They are on the cusp of the eight, and their ability to play for 80 minutes hasn't surprised former Raiders who played under Gold Coast coach Neil Henry.
Henry began his coaching career at the Raiders. Like the Titans this year, they were wooden spoon favourites in 2008 but proved the doubters wrong by finishing sixth.
That Canberra side also boasted little star power, but former Raiders forward Josh Miller said Henry had an innate ability to unite a team.
"He was honest, the best way to describe him. Tough but fair," Miller said.
"There was no nonsense in his coaching. We had a lot of injuries that year but we were disciplined enough to get there.
"We didn't have the most skillful side by any means but he had us disciplined enough to play good football.
"I remember seeing him once and asked if I was going alright, and he said 'if you're not hearing from me, you're doing a good job'.
"He didn't over-complicate it for me."
Miller's former Raiders teammate Nigel Plum agreed.
"He did do a good job of getting the boys together and really wanting to play for each other and the whole club," Plum said.
"That's what he did with me, he recognised my strengths and got me to use those to my advantage."
SUNDAY
NRL round 16: Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders at Gold Coast, 2pm
TV: Fox Sports 1
