Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has been suspended for a week and it may become the new norm as the NRL sets a new benchmark for officials who cross the line, writes BRENT READ.
Harsh but fair was how one senior club official described it. Hard to argue really. Canberra coach Ricky Stuart will be $25,000 lighter in the pocket after his personal attack on Penrith player Jaeman Salmon at the weekend, but the money won’t be Stuart’s overriding concern.
A one-game suspension will hit Stuart where it really hurts. The Raiders coach loves the cut-and-thrust of game day. He feels every tackle and rides every run, generally from a plastic seat on the sideline.
Not this weekend when the Raiders host St George Illawarra in a game which could define their season. Stuart will be forced to watch from the comfort of home, although you suspect he would much rather than plastic chair and the chilly Canberra air.
He won’t be able to communicate with the team for a week. He won’t be able to attend training. He won’t even be able to pick up the phone and call one of his players. Stuart left Raiders headquarters on Tuesday night and for the first time in a long time, he won’t have a team to worry about.
Chief executive and great mate Donnie Furner told Stuart he would see him next Wednesday and urged him to use the time to recharge his batteries and enjoy his family. Sage advice given events of the past few days.
Stuart’s attack on Salmon – he called the Panthers utility a “weak-gutted dog” – came from a deeply personal place, but it was inexcusable. As the face of the club, Stuart needed to be held to a higher standard. He needed to set the standard, not lower it.
Beyond the club, he is an iconic figure in the Canberra community where he has raised millions for his charity to improve the lives of others in the nation’s capital. He is a role model and leader. His actions and words go well beyond the Raiders and rugby league.
It’s why the NRL had no choice but to come down hard on Stuart in the wake of the his verbal assault on Salmon. They needed to send a message that his actions were unacceptable for anyone, let alone someone in a position of power as the head coach of an NRL team.
One of Stuart’s most endearing qualities is that he wears his heart on his sleeve. With Ricky, you always know where you stand. I don’t profess to being close to him, but I have immense respect for him as a man and a rugby league coach.
The time for fines, however, was over. Stuart’s history and the gravity of the offence demanded a more significant sanction. In handing down a suspension, the NRL has set a new benchmark. Coaches are now on notice.
The Raiders notably accepted the punishment with great haste on Tuesday afternoon and the Panthers released a statement supporting the decision, at the same time condemning the comments. The Salmon family had requested action as well and they are yet to respond to the sanction.
The hope is that they accept it as well and move on. It’s been a sorry week for all concerned. The sooner rugby league can turn the page on it, the better for everyone.
