Canberra Coach Encourages Young Winger to Believe in His Talent
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has been vocal about the importance of confidence for young players, especially after a challenging performance from winger Savelio Tamale in the team’s recent match against the Rabbitohs. The 21-year-old faced a difficult day, with several uncharacteristic errors that left many questioning his form.
During the high-stakes game, which ended in a narrow 36-34 victory for Canberra, Tamale struggled with a series of fumbles. He dropped two high balls in the first half and fumbled an easy pass in the second half, raising concerns about his mental state. This momentary lapse in confidence is often referred to as “the yips,” a term used to describe a loss of control due to anxiety or self-doubt.
Despite the setbacks, Tamale had one standout moment in the 28th minute when he intercepted a Rabbitohs fumble and launched a 50-meter sprint towards the try line. However, this moment almost ended in disaster when he inexplicably stopped just one meter short of the goal. Instead of diving over, he hesitated, allowing South Sydney’s five-eighth Cody Walker to deliver a heavy tackle. Tamale managed to touch the ball down, but the incident highlighted the challenges he was facing.
Stuart took the opportunity to speak with Tamale after the incident, emphasizing the need for him to believe in his abilities. “He’s a brilliant football player, Sav, a wonderful winger,” Stuart said. “He’s just down on confidence at the moment. And he’s one of those young blokes I’m talking about—he hasn’t felt this.”
Tamale is still early in his career, having only completed one season in the NRL last year. While he had a breakout season, an injury set him back, and he has struggled to regain his form in recent games. “He’s at the start of his career. He really only had one season in NRL, and that was last year. He had a breakout season, got injured, come back, and now a couple of things have gone against him over the last couple of games, and he’s just lacking confidence.”
Stuart also emphasized the importance of support from the team. “We’ve all spoken about it as a group to get around him, and that’s when the care for your players comes in.”
The Raiders entered the match on a four-game losing streak, despite being minor premiers last season. They had started the year with a golden-point win over Manly, but the losses began to pile up, affecting the confidence of many young players.
“It’s not the way we wanted to start,” Stuart admitted. “But the one thing I know, though, they’ll just keep fighting for the jumper, and for one another.”
The Rabbitohs, who fell just short in their fightback, now have a 3-2 record. Adding to their woes, fullback Jye Gray suffered a shoulder injury in the first half, which is expected to keep him out for at least two to three weeks. “It’s an AC joint, so it’s pretty sore,” said Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett. “I’ve got to assume it’s going to be two or three weeks at least.”
Cody Walker’s performance was a bright spot for the Rabbitohs, as he scored two tries, marking the 15th double of his career and breaking a 13-game try drought. “It should give him some confidence, I’ve got no doubt,” Bennett said.
Despite the challenges, both teams showed resilience, with the Raiders proving their ability to bounce back and the Rabbitohs demonstrating their fighting spirit. As the season progresses, the focus will remain on building confidence and maintaining momentum.
