LAS VEGAS: The Warriors are preparing themselves for a classic Ricky Stuart ambush when their season kicks off in Vegas on Sunday (AEDT).
The Kiwi team are hot favourites in the eyes of both the bookies and the punters for the huge season opener in Sin City, with little love for Canberra.
But Stuart has been in this position many times before and Warriors coach Andrew Webster has warned his players that the ambush is a big danger.
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“I played for six seasons in Canberra so you don’t need to tell me how they thrive in these situations,” star fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad told Wide World of Sports.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Getty
“They love been written off and having the underdog tag – it bonds them and they come out and lift their game. We have to stop that from happening.”
Webster began his NRL coaching career under Stuart at Parramatta and knows his team is in for a torrid afternoon at Allegiant Stadium.
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“Ricky is a good man and a fine coach and he knows how to get his boys firing in games like this … it is a danger game for us, no question about it,” Webster said.
“We have to go in with the right attitude and can’t afford to let them get on top early.”
