Ricky Stuart hits back at critics after Raiders’ NRL Vegas win

Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart has fired a shot at those who expect his side to win the wooden spoon in the 2025 NRL Premiership.

The Raiders recorded a dominant win over the New Zealand Warriors to begin their season at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT), prevailing 30-8 despite being heavy underdogs across NRL betting sites.

“It’s going to be a tough competition mate if we’re going to run last,” Stuart said in the post-match press conference.

“You guys all do write us off, which I don’t mind. It’s easy for me.

“It’s going to be a good competition if we come last, like a lot of you are expecting. It’s going to be a tough competition.

“100% we came here to make a statement.”

Marantelli Bet had Canberra at $2.40 to win the match, while their overall odds to win the premiership were $67 — the last line of betting.

After Sunday’s result, top online bookmakers have slashed the Raiders’ title odds to $41.

For New Zealand, their outright betting odds have headed the other direction.

Pre-season, the Warriors were paying $41 to win their maiden NRL title; however, after the loss to Canberra, they are now slated at $51 with BetOnline.

“People underestimate these guys,” Stuart said of his team after the match.

“They’re a tough forward pack, they played against a tough forward pack tonight.

“That was brutal in the middle there tonight.

“We knew it was going to be a battle, we knew were going to have to be on our game.

“We’ve had a really good pre-season, and I think that shows.”

The Raiders head into a bye in Round 2 before facing the Brisbane Broncos in Round 3.

New Zealand take on the Manly Sea Eagles next, who play their first match this Saturday against the North Queensland Cowboys.

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