Inside the influential leadership team driving Ricky's Raiders to the top

Ricky Stuart has given an insight into the influence of Canberra's leadership group after revealing that it was captain Joseph Tapine who informed his son Jed that he would debut against Wests Tigers.

With boom rookie Savelio Tamale sidelined by a knee injury, the leadership group - labelled ‘Club 82’ after the season the Raiders entered the premiership - convinced Stuart that Jed was ready for the step up to the NRL.

Jed, who turns 24 on Sunday, repaid their faith with a first half try before the Green Machine hung on to win 16-12 at Campbelltown on Friday night.

Tapine was the player to let Jed Stuart know he would be making his NRL debut, despite his father being the head coach. 

“Our senior players are a massive support to me," Stuart said. "When I talked to the ‘Club 82’ boys, led by Joe, they wanted nothing else but to put Jed in there, and that gave me confidence to select him.

"There's no way I’d throw Jed in there if I didn’t have the support of the players. Personally, I knew he was ready, but I still needed to make sure I had confidence from the boys."

Stuart said the confidence he had in his leadership group was a significant advantage as coach, and their mutual trust is paying dividends as the Raiders are flying high with more wins than any other team. 

In another example, Stuart detailed how he and ‘Club 82’ had devised a strategy for managing key forwards Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh, who travelled from Perth the day before the Round 16 clash after being on Origin duty.

“I said to Taps [Tapine] and Papa (Josh Papali'i) that I didn’t know if I was going to start Red [Horsburgh] after a five-hour plane trip," Stuart said.

"I said ‘okay, well Papa, you grab Joe, Morgan [Smithies], Red and you then come back and tell me who's playing, and who’s starting'.

"I said to Hudson ‘Go grab Simi (Sasagi) and talk to Hosko (Zac Hosking), you tell me who’s starting’, and that's the confidence I have in the boys I’ve got. From a coaching point of view, it's a massive help." 

The belief in the senior playing group was at its most evident with Stuart giving Tapine the privilege of telling Jed that he was making his NRL debut.

The leadership group had earlier in the year implored Stuart to take Jed to Las Vegas as part of the Round 1 squad to play the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium but Tamale got the nod over him for the wing spot.  

"I talked to Stick, I let him know. I talked to the ‘82’ boys, our leadership group, and the reason he got chosen for the Vegas trip was because he was the next best man up," Tapine said.

"I actually gave him the phone call. I talked to Stick and gave Jed the phone call.

I think I was more nervous than him. You’re letting someone know you’re accomplishing their dream that they've worked so hard for.

"I sat in the car for about 10 minutes before trying to figure out what to say to him."

Jed said the backing of the senior players had helped calmed his nerves, with his father being more nervous and emotional than he was before the game.

“I know the boys back me and that just gives me all the confidence I need. That's why I was more excited rather than nervous," Jed said.

"There were no tears for me. The only time I probably got emotional was when I went home just before coming to Campbelltown and mum gave me a hug to say goodbye before I left the game.

“She just said, 'you've wanted to play NRL since you were three years old, you've been telling me since you were three years old, and now you're finally doing it'.

"That got the tears going a bit before I left."

Jed had about 100 family and friends on hand to support him and they had plenty to cheer for as he scored an 18th minute try, produced three tackle breaks, a line break and saved a potential 40/20 kick.  

“[Dad] didn't talk to me much through the week because every time he'd bring it up, he'd start getting emotional," Jed said.

"I'm just glad we got the win for him because he would have felt so disappointed if we didn't."