 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ricky John Stuart | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1967-01-07)7 January 1967 (age 58) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb; 13 st 1 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 21 November 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ricky John "Sticky"[3] StuartAM (born 7 January 1967) is an Australian professionalrugby league football coach who is the head coach of Canberra in theNational Rugby League (NRL) and a formerrugby league footballer who played as ahalfback in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.[4]
He also replacedCraig Bellamy as head coach of theNew South Wales State of Origin team following a fifth consecutive failure in the2010 series. Stuart had previously been coach of theAustralian national side, and has coached NRL clubs the Sydney Roosters (taking them to three consecutive grand finals from 2002 to 2004), Cronulla-Sutherland and Parramatta.
A former international representativerugby league andrugby union player – a dual-code international – Stuart also playedState of Origin for New South Wales in the firstGould era. At club level, Stuart was thehalf-back of the "Green Machine", theCanberra Raiders team who were coached byTim Sheens and won three premierships in1989,1990 and1994, besides being runners-up in1991. As a player Stuart was noted for his ability to throw long, spiralling passes to both the left and right sides of the field.[5]
Ricky Stuart was born inQueanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. He originally playedrugby league as a child, but took uprugby union while attendingSt Edmund's College, Canberra.[6]
Stuart was selected for the ACT Schoolboys in 1984,[7] and attracted press attention the following season for a dominant display for his school in the Waratah Shield final.[8] He would play for the Australian Schoolboys in 1985, when he was acclaimed as the best prospect in schoolboy rugby union sinceMichael O'Connor andDavid Campese.[9]
Stuart's union career was with theQueanbeyan Whites before being selected for theWallabies tour of Argentina in 1987. Stuart played three tour matches but no Test matches, in both theFly-half andScrum-half positions.[10]
Always interested in converting to rugby league, Stuart was initially chased byBalmain,[11] who had a weakness in the halves at the time.[12] He also received offers from reigning premiersManly and the newly formedNewcastle club.[13] However, his residence in Queanbeyan meant that he preferred playing withCanberra,[11] and after initially signing to play forManly RUFC,[13] the Raiders would double Balmain's offer in order to get him.[14]
WithChris O'Sullivan andIvan Henjak holding down the Raiders' first grade inside back positions, Stuart began his senior league career in reserve grade. Although he would lift a previously weak Raider reserve grade team,[15] Stuart would remain in reserve grade until the regular halves became injured at the end of June.[16]
Once promoted to first grade, Stuart immediately stamped himself as a player of genuine class,[17] and by the end of 1988 was earmarked for representative honours.[11] He soon became a key factor behind the club's most successful period in the late 1980s and 1990s, playinghalfback inside a backline including legendary talentsLaurie Daley,Mal Meninga andGary Belcher. After the 1989 Grand Final victory, Stuart and the Raiders travelled to England for the1989 World Club Challenge which was lost toWidnes.[18]
Although he had ambitions to play in representative rugby league as early as 1989, Stuart was never picked that season.[19] However, he was already regarded as a strong candidate forthe Kangaroo tour when the 1990 season opened.[20] With New South Wales seeking new blood after two successive Origin cleansweep losses in1988 and1989, he was earmarked for a New South Wales halfback berth from very early in the season.[21] Stuart would not disappoint: New South Wales won the series 2–1 and he was named man-of-the-match in the second game of the1990 State of Origin series. He then won theClive Churchill Medal in the Raiders' 1990 grand final victory over Penrith, and had become a certainty to tour with the Kangaroos.
Stuart debuted in the first test of the1990 Kangaroo tour againstGreat Britain in London in October 1990, playing five-eighth outsideAllan Langer. This appearance saw him become Australia's 38th dual code rugby international, followingMichael O'Connor and precedingScott Gourley.[22] He replaced Langer at halfback in last two Tests, with Australia winning both.
Established in league's elite, Stuart would suffer throughoutthe 1991 season from a painful groin injury,[23] despite having an operation after returning home from the Kangaroo Tour.[24] He managed despite this handicap to play 24 of 26 club games for the Raiders, and all three Origin games for the Blues. However, Queensland wona very close series 2–1 and Stuart lost his Test jersey to Langer who was fitter and in better form at all levels. By the time of the finals, Stuart's kicking game was crippled by his groin trouble,[25] and he was replaced byScott Gale during the Raiders' grand final loss to Penrith.
During the 1991 season, the Raiders were plagued by massive debts and salary cap breaches, largely due to the cost of their move toBruce Stadium and building a second leagues club.[26] It was initially thought Stuart might sign with English clubWakefield Trinity.[27] Although – unlike the Raiders’ other stars – Stuart received no recorded offer from any other English or NSWRL club during the peak of the club's financial crisis in the following three months, Stuart would not re-sign until after Meninga, Daley, Clyde and Walters had done so.[28]
October surgery aimed to repair Stuart's chronic groin problems,[29] but in 1992, Stuart would suffer a posterior cruciate ligament tear that required another surgery,[30] and consequently missed his first domestic representative games since debuting at that level. He recovered to help New South Wales toOrigin success – winning his second Man of the Match award in the deciding encounter[31] – and would be named Canberra's1992 Player of the Year,[32] although the off-field problems from 1991 saw the club finish in the bottom five in all three grades.[33] With Langer having his best season ever, Stuart could not regain his Test jumper, but at the beginning of the 1993 season Stuart was seen as fully fit.[11]
A recurrence of his groin problems saw Stuart miss the opening Winfield Cup game,[34] which the Raiders lost to a 12-manSt. George. However, upon returning Stuart played in his finest form yet, leading the Raiders to a sequence of thirteen wins and a draw in fifteen games from Rounds 7 to 21,[35] besides helping New South Wales to anotherOrigin triumph with a third Man of the Match in the first game. A likely Canberra premiership triumph was quashed when Stuart broke his leg – ironically during a record 68–0 win against Parramatta – in the penultimate round, with the result that Canberra were easily beaten by Canterbury, St. George and Brisbane, falling from first to fourth in the process. Stuart nonetheless won the 1993Dally M Medal for theWinfield Cup's Player of the Year, and won theRothmans Medal with a vote total then beaten only byMick Cronin in1978.[36] Stuart worked intensively to recover over the ensuing summer,[37] and was fit for the start of the 1994 season. He then reproduced his 1993 form, leading the Raiders to an emphatic 36–12 Grand Final triumph over Canterbury and New South Wales[38] to a fourth Origin triumph in five seasons. Although there had long been intense debate as to whether Stuart should replace Allan Langer as Test number seven,[39] Stuart did not regain his Test place even after his third consecutive Origin win.[40] However, onthe 1994 Kangaroo Tour Stuart did take over from Langer after the Kangaroos lost the First Test and led Australia to three Test victories.[41]
By the close of the tour, Stuart was viewed as the most influential, and possibly best, player in the world.[42]
Before Canberra's 1994 triumph, a "Super League" encompassing only elite teams had been envisioned byNews Limited.[43] Canberra was one of the first clubs to sign with Super League – being forced to do so because Stuart and Bradley Clyde were pursued for huge money by ARL-loyalSydney City.[44] Stuart was never in any doubt about Super League, despite strong counter-offers by the ARL outside of the Roosters.[45] At the height of the conflict, Stuart's asking price rose from $700,000 to $2,500,000 during one day, as he became the public face of Super League.[46]
Appointed captain of the Raiders to succeed the retiring Meninga, Stuart would lead them to their best-ever regular season record of twenty wins and only two losses, but after defeatingthe Broncos 14–8 in Brisbane they would be thrashed 6–25 bythe Sydney Bulldogs in their preliminary final.[47] However, the ARL's blanket ban on Super League players meant Stuart would not play in any representative match in 1995[48] – indeed as it turned out he would never play representative rugby league again.[1]
In 1996 Stuart initially refused to play in the ARL competition whenthe Federal Court ordered Super League-loyal clubs to play there.[49] The Court then forbade the commencement of any rival league,[50] with the result that Stuart said he would rather play in England's new summer season[note 1] than with the ARL.[51] Stuart would have his season ended by a knee injury after two games.[52]
Stuart retired as a player in 2000 after failing to recover from a recurring knee injury.[53] He had played a total of 243 first-grade games for the Raiders and Bulldogs since 1988.
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately. Find sources: "Ricky Stuart" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(December 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Stuart began his first grade coaching career in 2002 with the Sydney Roosters, taking over fromGraham Murray and winning the premiership in his first year as coach. Having won the2002 NRL Premiership, the Roosters travelled to England to play the2003 World Club Challenge againstSuper League champions,St Helens R.F.C. Stuart coached Sydney to a 38–0 victory. That season he took the Roosters tothe grand final but they lost toPenrith. The 2004 Stuart-coached Roosters side was also beaten in the Grand Final, but the team struggled in 2005 and 2006. Stuart's contract was terminated and he left the Roosters two weeks before the end of the 2006 season.[citation needed]
In 2007, Stuart took over fromStuart Raper as head coach ofCronulla with a two-year contract, which was then extended to the end of the 2011 playing season.
Despite the Sharks making the preliminary finals in 2008, Stuart's time with the club was marred by a horror year in 2009. Not only was the club in dire financial straits[54] but the Cronulla club was also tarnished by media allegations about a 2002 group-sex incident involving former Sharks players, playerReni Maitua's dismissal after testing positive to drugs,[55] removal of the captaincy from key playerPaul Gallen, due to making racist remarks several unsavoury incidents involving now-disgraced CEO Tony Zappia.[note 2][56]
On 19 July 2010, Stuart resigned as Cronulla-Sutherland coach six weeks before the end of the 2010 season. Stuart said that he decided to leave Cronulla after he felt that he no longer had the support of his players. Stuart went on to say
I just feel I can’t get that extra bit out of them at the moment, Talking to the players at halftime and after the game, I could probably sense with them that this was the only decision.[57]
Stuart leaving the club ended yet another tenure prematurely and at loggerheads with club executives, members and players, with Cronulla appointingShane Flanagan as his replacement.[58]
Stuart signed a lucrative three-year contract with the Parramatta Eels, beginning in 2013. This meant that Stuart had to stand down as the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, as the state had put in a policy that the head coach would not have any relation to an NRL club. The Eels had in recent years been perennial underachievers, with Stuart set the unenviable task of resurrecting the Eels after they finished last in 2012. However, in theround 4 match against the Roosters, Stuart suffered the worst defeat in his NRL coaching career, losing 50–0.[59] In the aftermath of the game, Stuart said at the press conference
I can't say it won't happen again, it will and I hope to turn it around quickly but it won't, it is going to take a long time to turn it around, we have to keep building our roster because it is not up to the level of other rosters".[60]
In April 2013 Stuart was fined $10,000 for questioning a referee's impartiality following a loss to the Gold Coast.[61]In June 2013, Stuart infamously told twelve Parramatta players via an overhead projector that their services were no longer required beyond the 2013 season.[62]
On 11 September 2013, Stuart announced that he was quitting Parramatta to join Canberra as head coach on a three-year contract to continue his coaching career. The day after he announced his moved Stuart spoke at Parramatta's presentation night saying:
I’ve been assassinated over the last day and I’ll be assassinated again tomorrow, but they are small-minded people. They don't understand the big decision I’ve had to make. It's been very hard, it's been very difficult, it’s a very big decision. I’ve had a lot of criticism today. It's not easy to take. I've had my character judged. I made a decision that’s best for my career and my family and I'll wear all the criticism.[63]
Stuart took up the head coach position ofCanberra on a three-year deal in 2014.[4]
Following Canberra's loss in round 10 ofthe 2014 season, Stuart spoke to the media saying:
When you get s*** refereeing, sorry, when you get poor refereeing decisions that are just incorrect, purely incorrect, that frustrates you because it’s a tight competition and every game’s a tight game
Stuart was later fined $10,000 by the NRL for his post match comments.[64][65]
In 2016, Stuart coached Canberra to a second-placed finish at the end of the regular season. In week one of the finals, Canberra were upset in front of a sold-out home crowd losing to eventual premiers Cronulla 16–14. Canberra would defeat Penrith the following week to qualify for the club's first preliminary final in nineteen years. Canberra went on to fall short of a grand final appearance losing to Melbourne 14–12.[66][67]
In July 2018 after a match againstCronulla in which a refereeing mistake leading to a try cost the Raiders the game, Stuart demanded that the NRL overhaul the bunker system responsible for reviewing potential tries.[68]
Inthe 2019 season, Stuart guided Canberra to a 4th-place finish at the end of the regular season. Canberra would then go on to defeat Melbourne and South Sydney to qualify for their first grand final since 1994. Inthe Grand Final againstthe Roosters, Canberra lost the match 14–8 in controversial circumstances. During the second half of the game and with only 10 minutes remaining, Canberra were initially given a new six tackle set after refereeBen Cummins had ruled that the Roosters had touched the ball. Canberra playerJack Wighton would then be tackled with the ball. Cummins later ruled that it was not a repeat set and it was a handover to the Sydney Roosters. In the following minutes, Roosters playerJames Tedesco would score the match winning try.
In the post-match press conference, Stuart told the media:
You all saw it. None of us here will be commenting on that tonight. It's not the time to talk about it.[69][70][71]
In the2020 NRL season, Stuart guided Canberra to a fifth placed finish on the table as they qualified for the finals. Canberra would eventually reach the preliminary final before losing to Melbourne 30–10. In the post match press conference, Stuart walked out after answering only one question.[72]
In round 8 of the2021 NRL season, Canberra were defeated by South Sydney 34–20 which included two tries that were disallowed against Canberra. In the post match press conference Stuart said:
I'll look like a whinger, which I don't really give a shit about being labelled a whinger, but when you get a game out there where it's 8–1 in penalties, I just think it needs a discussion.[73]
Canberra would finish the2021 NRL season in a disappointing tenth place on the table after the club were tipped to reach the finals and once again challenge for the premiership.[74][75]Following Canberra's 36–6 loss againstPenrith in round 7 of the2022 NRL season, Stuart was asked by journalists following the match on his thoughts about the Penrith crowd mocking Canberra's viking clap. Stuart responded with
Is that really a big focus point?, Well if that is all we have got to talk about Fuck me dead.[76]
Following Canberra's loss againstPenrith in round 21 of the2022 NRL season, Stuart commented on Penrith playerJaeman Salmon who had kicked out at Canberra's Tom Starling while he was playing the ball. Stuart went on to say
I’ve had history with that kid. I know that kid very well. He was a weak gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He's a weak gutted dog person now.[77]
On 9 August 2022, Stuart was fined $25,000 and suspended for one match from the NRL over his comments towards Salmon.[78] Following Canberra's 48–2 loss against Melbourne in round 24 of the2023 NRL season, Stuart walked out after just 80 seconds of the post match press conference. Stuart said
It wasn't tough at all. It was just embarrassing. (I'm) absolutely embarrassed, I'll talk tomorrow about it. I'm not trying to be disrespectful to you mate. I just ain't in the mood for talking. Really, it's just… I'm here because I have to be.[79]
Stuart guided Canberra to an 8th place finish in the 2023 NRL season, but the Raiders would go on to be eliminated in the first week as they lost their elimination final against Newcastle 30–28 in golden point extra-time.[80]In 2024, Stuart coached his 250th game for Canberra against theNew Zealand Warriors. They would go on to lose 18–10. Following Canberra's round 6 golden point victory over the Gold Coast, Stuart said in the post match press conference
F*** me. He's on another planet, If he's critical of the six-agains and the penalties, he's on another planet.He coached well, but the way they cheated with hands on the ball [in tackles], the way they cheated on the ground.
Stuart said this in relation toDes Hasler stating that the referees were unfavourable towards the Gold Coast.[81] In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Stuart coached his 500th first grade game which would end in a 40–0 loss against one of his former clubs in Cronulla.[82]
In 2005, Stuart was appointed coach of theNew South Wales.[83] Although Stuart only coached the NSW side for just one series, the Blues managed to win theseries 2–1 after losing the first match in golden point. On 17 November 2010, Stuart was appointed as the state's first full-time coach of theNew South Wales State of Origin team for two years. Stuart's victory in 2005 was the last time NSW won an origin series until the Laurie Daley-coached Blues won in 2014.
Stuart coached the Blues forthe 2011 series, which was lost to theMaroons by two games to one.
Stuart continued in the NSW head coaching role for the2012 series, which was once again lost by two games to one. For the second consecutive year however, New South Wales won Game II in Sydney. Shortly after signing on asParramatta Eels coach for the 2013 season onwards, Stuart resigned from his role as NSW coach.[84]
In December 2005, Stuart was appointed as coach ofAustralian national rugby league team, replacingWayne Bennett after Australia's loss in the2005Tri-Nations Final to New Zealand by a scoreline of 24–0.[85] This meant that Stuart had to stand down as coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team. Stuart enjoyed success with the Kangaroos: winning the Anzac Tests of 2006 and 2007, as well as the2006 Tri-Nations. In addition, at the end of the 2007 season, the team won a one-off Test against New Zealand.
Stuart's Australian team lost the2008 Rugby League World Cup Final to New Zealand, 34–20. Afterwards he was reported to be so incensed by the defeat that he verbally attackedGeoff Carr, the Chief Executive of Australian Rugby League, claiming that tournament organisers and match officials conspired to cause the Australian loss.[86] The next morning he had a chance meeting withAshley Klein, who refereed the final, and Stuart Cummings, England's director of referees, at their hotel. He is reported to have verbally abused both officials in front of a number of witnesses, calling Klein a cheat, and of being physically and aggressively intimidating.[87]
| Ricky Stuart – Coaching Results by Season[88] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | NRL Team | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | Notes |
| 2002 | Sydney Roosters | 28 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 68% | Won2002 NRL Grand Final againstNew Zealand Warriors |
| 2003 | 27 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 70% | Lost2003 NRL Grand Final againstPenrith Panthers | |
| 2004 | 27 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 78% | Lost2004 NRL Grand Final againstBulldogs | |
| 2005 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 46% | Finished 9th (out of 15) | |
| 2006 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 33% | Finished 14th (out of 15) | |
| 2007 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42% | Finished 11th (out of 16) |
| 2008 | 26 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 69% | Lost Grand Final qualifier againstMelbourne Storm | |
| 2009 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 21% | Finished 15th (out of 16) | |
| 2010 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 29% | Resigned with 6 rounds remaining | |
| 2013 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 21% | Finished 16th (out of 16) |
| 2014 |  Canberra Raiders | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 33% | Finished 15th (out of 16) |
| 2015 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42% | Finished 10th (out of 16) | |
| 2016 | 27 | 18 | 1 | 8 | 67% | Lost Preliminary Final to Melbourne Storm. | |
| 2017 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 46% | Finished 10th (out of 16) | |
| 2018 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42% | Finished 10th (out of 16) | |
| 2019 | 27 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 63% | Lost2019 NRL Grand Final toSydney Roosters | |
| 2020 | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 70% | Lost Preliminary Final toMelbourne Storm. | |
| 2021 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42% | Finished 10th (out of 16) | |
| 2022 | 25 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 56% | Finished 8th (out of 16), suspended for round 22 match | |
| 2023 | 25 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 52% | Finished 8th (out of 17) | |
| 2024 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 50% | Finished 9th (out of 17) | |
| Career | 516 | 260 | 2 | 254 | 50% | ||
Stuart is married to his wife Kaylie and they have three children – daughter Emma and two sons Jackson and Jed.[89]
Stuart was appointed a Member of theOrder of Australia in the2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, for
significant service to rugby league, and to the community.[90]
In 2011, inspired by his daughter being diagnosed withautism, Stuart and his wife founded the Ricky Stuart Foundation, a charity which aims to raise support for autism and to assist with the provision of carers and support for families.[91] The Raiders replace their major jersey sponsor for one round each year with the foundation's logo to help raise further support.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Canberra Raiders captain 1995–97 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Andrew Dunemann (interim) 2013 | Coach Canberra Raiders 2014-Present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Stephen Kearney 2011-2012 | Coach Parramatta Eels 2013 | Succeeded by Brad Arthur 2014-present |
| Preceded by Craig Bellamy 2008-2010 | Coach New South Wales State of Origin 2011-2012 | Succeeded by Laurie Daley 2013–2017 |
| Preceded by Stuart Raper 2004–2006 | Coach Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2007–2009 | Succeeded by Shane Flanagan 2010-2013 |
| Preceded by Wayne Bennett 2004–2005 | Coach Australia 2006–2008 | Succeeded by Tim Sheens 2009–2015 |
| Preceded by Graham Murray 2000–2001 | Coach Sydney Roosters 2002–2006 | Succeeded by Chris Anderson 2007 |
| Preceded by Phil Gould 2002–2004 | Coach New South WalesState of Origin 2005 | Succeeded by Graham Murray 2006–2007 |
Australia squads | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|