BY DAN

David Riccio of Code Sports is reporting that the Canberra Raiders will solve their Savelio Tamale dilemma by promoting Jed Stuart for his first grade debut. This is supported by the fact that Stuart was pulled from NSW Cup on Sunday.

This is a matter that will be celebrated by the media and anyone that has a bone of sentimentality in their body. Heartwarming stories will be incoming. Tears will be shed. A boy becomes a man has a boy who becomes a man and works with Dad. Cue up the swelling music, and the hugs between man and boy. Someone film Stick handing Jed the keys to a new car like the Gillette ad back in the day.

Sentimentality aside, it’s also good and interesting the club is maintaining their set up of utilising Simi Sasagi as the squad’s Paul Rudd (able to perform whatever role given). One of the reasons the Raiders have thrived this year is because of the nitrous boost their bench gives them. The power and energy that comes from that unit has been helpful, but also the assurance is critical. Canberra have been able to fill any hole (ahem) they’ve needed to, and this maintains that capacity.

There were obviously other ways to do this, as we noted here. You could have moved Seb there, allowing Simi to play centre (a variety of that may still occur given Jed was initially named at centre in NSW Cup on the weekend). This could have maintained flexibility by picking Noah Martin in the 17, allowing Zac Hosking or even Hudson Young to fill out as needed. But evidently the club decided they needed to maintain Simi on the bench.

I presume this is determined by the risk that Young may not back up. Shifting Simi out only makes sense if he’s not starting at left back row. With the two-day turnaround from State of Origin, there’s every likelihood that Young doesn’t play. Noah Martin would then appear on the bench to support Simi instead of in addition to him.

With that it mind it makes sense the Raiders appear to be going the straight swap, making it a choice between Stuart and Michael Asomua. It’s not the choice I would make. So much of what has worked for Canberra this year has been because of the ability of the back five in yardage. Tamale has averaged 156 metres and near 6 tackle breaks per game. Xavier Savage has averaged 121 metres, and leads the Raiders in run metres over expected (per the Rugby League Eye Test). Along with Jamal Fogarty’s kicking game, this is part of the foundation upon which the Raiders have built their game.

Jed Stuart isn’t a strong yardage back, averaging just 95 metres a game in NSW Cup and just 1.5 tackle breaks a game. The closer facsimile to Tamale is Asomua, who would more closer approximate Tamale’s willingness and ability to tear into a set defensive line. He averages 125m per game and just over 3 tackle breaks a game. If Canberra don’t replicate Tamale’s yardage the ramifications could be felt across the team. But maybe Seb and Matty Himoko just decide to do an insane amount of work, like they’re known to do. And then I’m worrying about nothing.

Jed also isn’t faster or more powerful than Asomua, or a better finisher. To me he feels more like a ‘tweener’. He’s not really fast enough to play out wide, not big enough to play in the middle. He does offer great utility, which if I’m being honest was how I’d always the pathway I’d envisaged his pathway to first grade being. Captain Joe Tapine says he’s one of the best defensive backs at the club and I trust that man with my life. So let’s call that his elite skill and hope it’s enough to make an impact.

My preference for Asomua isn’t a suggestion that Stuart isn’t up to it. Stuart is what you’d expect for the fourth choice winger on an NRL roster. I’m also not interested in suggestions that this is nepotism. Coach Stuart has admitted he’s been conflicted about how to approach the decision making process around Jed. Let’s be clear, my quibble between Stuart or Asomua or whomever as a first grader is just that. We should take heed of what happened with Jake Arthur at Parramatta. This was a good footballer driven out of the club he should have made his home because he was blamed for the faults of his peers. Stuart will likely not be the difference between winning and losing. He will be given a simple job, as any debutant is. I hope he can perform it well.

We will be hoping this is the start of something beautiful. This year has already given us so many great moments, so the idea of father and son embracing on the side-line after a big victory? Who doesn’t want to see that. Go well Jed.

Do me a favour and like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media and I’ll tell you the four words you need to know to be able to beatbox. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.

Feature image courtesy of the Cairns post