BY DAN

Well f*ck me, I didn’t see that coming.

Chevy Stewart dropped. James Schiller dropped. Simi Sasagi dropped. Pasami Saulo…injured? Danny Levi, saved.

At one level this degree of change shouldn’t be so surprising. The Raiders have not been at their best for two weeks. Positions were bound to change. That Sticky has done what he does best and gone back to the most experienced players available would normally not be that surprising. Binkies like Elliott Whitehead, Emre Guler and Nic Cotric haven’t been fan favourites in recent years but if there’s one thing you can rely on it’s that the floor in their production is a known quantity.

I have to admit Bert Hopoate coming in for Stewart at the back surprises me. I think we need to be patient with Stewart. His talent is undeniable and these sorts of ‘in-and-out’ scenarios are not unusual for young players. I thought he was solid if unspectacular last week. I also think that’s Bert’s modus operandi. I’ve never been sure about him as a fullback, at least in the creation stakes, but given that the club was basically unable to get to their edges in any significant way last week maybe Sticky is putting that cue entirely in the rack.

If I’m putting a positive spin on it I reckon Coach Stuart is looking for more yardage support from his back three. Stewart is a child so it’s hardly a strength, despite his will being stronger than his body. Putting Bert, X and Cotric as a back three should be good for exit sets and mean less stress on the middles, who frankly have looked strung out the last few outings. If there’s one thing Hopoate will do a mountain of it’s yardage carries.

I don’t think this is the last we see of Stewart in the top line this year. It might be that Hopoate is a bridge to Rapana returning post the bye. If that’s the case I still hold that Stewart will come back later in the year for another suite of games. We’ll get to see in Cup footy what lessons he learns, and when he comes back to first grade later he’ll be better for it. Normally I’d worry about confidence with young players, but he doesn’t lack for it, and Cup Coach Brock Shepperd will make sure he takes the right lessons with him.

Update: Stick has said he’s resting Stewart for the next two weeks. He won’t be playing Cup either, and the Coach is happy with how he’s going (thanks Pati!). This is fascinating, suggesting Stewart’s body is sore from the targeting he’s taken. Load management makes sense for developing bodies.

Elliott Whitehead’s calf is apparently healed, which isn’t a moment too soon. I’m very positive about Simi Sasagi but he was found out last week. There’s work to be done before he’s a consistent starter on the edge. Given Smell’s lack of footy recently it wouldn’t surprise me if it means more minutes for Ata on the edge. He’s an underrated good news story this year. The future of the middle covering the edge is a nice little extra. It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those.

I think the greater lesson from this is that Stuart is uninterested in completely handing over the season to losing for the greater good. I think that’s the right approach. Club cultures aren’t built like fantasy football rosters. Having young players into the top line only makes sense if they’re in a position to succeed. Putting all the pressure on on Strange, Weekes and Stewart to make things happen isn’t fair, and stylistic or supportive change isn’t feasible with such a short turnaround. Surrounding the youth with all the experience you can muster right now makes a certain degree of sense.

But given the experienced players were as culpable as anyone else last week it’s not a guaranteed solution. Given the choice of who and where it feels less certain for us than it does for Stuart.

It’s a complex outcome. There isn’t time to make major change, so the only change is to go back to the people you trust to do the job. This, of course, is also major change from the people that have been given the opportunity this year. Haphazardly searching for stability. Chaotically finding peace. Change and continuity.

I just hope it means a win.

Hello. If you like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media, I’ll give you one (1) music recommendation. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you have anything you want addressed.