LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has decided to rest several players in the upcoming match against the Dolphins, following the example set by Penrith. This decision comes after the Raiders clinched their first minor premiership since 1990 with a 24-10 victory against the Wests Tigers on Saturday, allowing Stuart the flexibility to rotate his starters in preparation for the finals.
In an interview with Triple M on Sunday, Stuart stated: "I will be (resting players). We've got some banged up players and I spoke to (NRL CEO) Andrew Abdo yesterday before the (minor premiership) presentation and said I will be resting some players that need it."
He continued, "There's some players that are banged up. It's such a long season. I'll just rest the players that I feel as though absolutely need it because they're banged up, and there's a few positional players there that I believe that I need fresh and healthy for semi-final one. I will make that position as we go but I haven't got a number (of how many players will be rested)."
The Panthers placed 16 main players on the sidelines during their recent match against Canterbury to ensure they are fit and ready for a championship push from outside the top four. However, concerns about a widespread resting of players among other finals-bound teams seem to have eased, as many clubs are expected to field their strongest line-ups in crucial upcoming games.
In contrast, Melbourne's coach Craig Bellamy has a history of resting players before the finals but is unlikely to do so this time, despite his team likely securing a top-two position. Following a disappointing 30-point defeat to the Roosters on Friday, Bellamy appeared determined not to give players a break ahead of their upcoming matchup against the Broncos in Brisbane.
"It's getting close to the other competition at the end of the season (the finals), so if some of the players can't excited for that, well, we don't want them in the team," he remarked. "When the finals start you want everyone on board and doing what the team needs you to do. If they won't want to be on board they can come sit with me."
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