Ricky Stuart knows his bench can come on and change the game. And the Canberra Raiders coach also knows competition for spots will only enhance that.
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Stuart has even more depth to choose from as the Green Machine prepares for their clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Kogarah Park on Sunday.
Corey Horsburgh returns from suspension through the NSW Cup, where Emre Guler's also plying his trade looking for an opportunity.
Stuart credited his bench with changing the momentum of the game against Wests Tigers last weekend, highlighted by Ryan James' try at the start of the second half that put the Raiders into a lead they never relinquished.
The Raiders bench of James, Sia Soliola, Ryan Sutton and Siliva Havili contributed to 353 run metres - with the starting middles adding 279m of their own.
While Joe Tapine (141m) led the way for the starters, Sutton (120m) and Soliola (118m) provided plenty of impact off the pine.
Stuart also backed his starters and said he wouldn't look to chop and change the combinations with the bench too much.
"I think the players on the bench, especially our middles, probably saved us in the first half," he said.
"The one thing that is comforting for myself is there's no player in the squad that can relax.
"If you make the NRL team for a week and don't perform, or relax on your preparation, there's going to be someone who will want your spot.
"That's the way it should be at this level."
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Stuart said Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker could've played in round one, but he wanted him to work on his conditioning to ensure he came back at 100 per cent.
He expected the veteran centre would either return against the New Zealand Warriors or the Gold Coast Titans.
Horsburgh will have to fight his way back into the selection mix through the NSW Cup after being suspended for round one due to a pre-season drink-driving charge.
It will be a similar situation for Corey Harawira-Naera who was also suspended for drink driving for the opening two rounds.
"More than likely that will be next week or the week after," Stuart said of Croker's return.
"Corey can come back, he hasn't played in a long while, similar to Emre Guler who got some good minutes in NSW Cup last week.
"Corey will get good minutes in the coming weeks and they'll be applying pressure to those guys above them."
NRL ROUND TWO
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Kogarah Park, 6.15pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Ryan Sutton, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Ryan James. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Tom Starling, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Harley Smith-Shields.
Sharks squad: 1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Mawene Hiroti, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Aaron Woods, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Connor Tracey, 15. Aiden Tolman, 16. Jack Williams, 17. Billy Magoulias. Reserves: 18. Nene Macdonald, 19. Teig Wilton, 20. Andrew Fifita, 21. Braydon Trindall.