What Ricky told Rob
A visit from the Canberra Raiders only reinforced Rob Penney’s belief that brighter days loom for the Crusaders.
In Christchurch for tomorrow night’s NRL clash with the Warriors, the Raiders were on deck for training at Rugby Park on Tuesday, continuing a trend of the red and blacks mixing with league clubs in recent years.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart had some words, too, for Penney, the Crusaders coach, given that the team based out of Australia’s capital was in a similar situation to the reigning Super Rugby champions a year ago.
Stuart’s Raiders dropped four of their first five games in 2023, before winning seven of their next eight and eventually going on to make the playoffs.
“We just discussed how that turnaround came around,” said Penney, whose Crusaders have lost four straight games for the first time in franchise history.
“And I feel as though what he was talking about was exactly the situation we’re in here. There’s still a lot of belief and confidence, the team is working really hard for those outcomes.
“So, that was a great conversation.’’ The situation the Crusaders are in is ugly. They’re one of two teams yet to win a match, they’ve scored the equal fewest tries (10), and they face the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday, followed by the Chiefs in Christchurch, before their bye.
Their bulging injury ward has been well documented, and it has without a doubt hindered their ability to kick-start the post-Scott Robertson era in the aftermath of franchise greats Sam Whitelock’s and Richie Mo’unga’s departures.
Penney is simply operating with a vastly different squad. Look at the starting team he wheeled out against the Hurricanes last week. Only flanker Tom Christie started the final against the Chiefs in Hamilton last June.
“We are probably an eight-cylinder motor going on six cylinders, and the choke is out,” Penney said. “We have got good boys here, excited about the future. We are not looking back, we are not looking for excuses. We are really pumped what this team is going to be capable of when we get that rhythm and flow.’’
This week Penney got back one body – prop Joe Moody (Covid) – for the team’s fourth game on the road in the space of five rounds, but he also lost lock Zach Gallagher (concussion) and prop Owen Franks (suspension).
Reinforcements aren’t likely before their bye, although it’s possible loose forward Christian Lio-Willie, who sprained his ankle against the Waratahs in round two, will return to face the Chiefs.
Getting players such as Scott Barrett, Ethan Blackadder and Fergus Burke back will sure help them turn the tide, but Penney saw enough during last week’s 14-10 defeat to the Hurricanes to indicate that what he’s got isn’t all that far away from bagging a result.
“It’s driven internally by the players,’’ he said of the team not dropping its lip.
“I said to them on Monday, one of the great things about this group, and you just love them for it, it’s [0-4] but they come in and they are reviewing as insidiously as they were at the start of the year to get better, to get improvement.
“The mentality is don’t sit and feel sorry for yourself, ’cause no-one else is. And that’s not a good place. If you are dark and negative, it’s a very restrictive learning environment to be in.
“If people feel threatened they never learn, which is not what’s happening here ... of course people are hurting, but the sun is out and people’s minds are open and willing to grow.’’
“We are not looking back, we are not looking for excuses.’’
Rob Penney