<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>327759</docID> <postdate>2024-08-27 17:42:58</postdate> <headline>How Savage love salvaged Raiders flyer’s NRL career</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-327760" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240707135281469294-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Xavier Savage had a good think about his NRL career and came back strong after a Ricky Stuart blast. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Jacob Shteyman</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Canberra speedster Xavier Savage has never looked more confident after his man-of-the-match performance against triple-reigning premiers Penrith reignited the Raiders' meagre finals chances.</strong></p> <p>But less than a year ago the promising winger was on the brink of being forced out of the club with his NRL future uncertain.</p> <p>After making the Raiders' No.1 jersey his own in 2022, Savage made just one first-grade appearance in an injury-maligned campaign last season.</p> <p>With a battle ahead of him to get back into the team he didn't help his case by returning from the off-season underdone.</p> <p>Coach Ricky Stuart early this year admitted he had considered letting the 22-year-old find another club.</p> <p>Savage said he took it in his stride.</p> <p>"I knew that it was my actions in the off-season that led to that moment," he said.</p> <p>"So it was up to me to make up for the rough off-season that I had. I didn't really train much when I was away on break, so I knew that that was all on me.</p> <p>"When I came back he gave me a challenge, otherwise I knew there were gonna be consequences. So he gave me that challenge to sort of flip that around and I did that, and came back post-Christmas and I was ready to go and very happy with how I was."</p> <p>The Cairns product has risen to the challenge, returning a career-best 13 tries from 22 appearances this season. His brace against the Panthers on Saturday was his first in the NRL.</p> <p>If the Raiders miraculously make the top eight, Savage's match-winning runaway try after Jarome Luai's intercepted pass in the 71st minute will be the turning point.</p> <p>He credits his own personal turnaround to a dose of good old-fashioned tough love.</p> <p>"I sort of told (Stuart) myself, actually, that I like that tough love sort of way to handle myself. If he's not doing that then I kind of feel like he doesn't care," he said.</p> <p>"But when I tell him to give me that tough love I know that he cares and I can handle it.</p> <p>"When I first moved down here I was always taking it in the wrong way, not handling it well. But I've definitely learned to take that on board in a positive manner."</p> </body>