The Canberra Raiders have announced head coach Ricky Stuart has re-signed with the club until the end of the 2025 season.
At its regular board meeting on 6 July, the Raiders board of directors voted unanimously to have Raiders Group CEO Simon Hawkins discuss a contract extension with Stuart. Raiders Chairman, Dr Allan Hawke AC, said the board were united in their decision that Stuart continues in his role as head coach.
“The board believes that Ricky provides the best direction and stability our club needs at this time. With professionalism and passion for the organisation, club, members, fans and supporters, Ricky continues to be the best-fit for the role,” Dr Hawke said.
“The board also wants to provide a clear and decisive direction in the head coaching position, to provide clarity and assurance to current and future players who may be looking to extend or sign with the club.”
If anyone knows about delivering success to the Raiders it’s the legendary Stuart, who played in the club’s three premierships in 1989, 1990 and 1994.
“I’ve said it from day one when I got here, I want to make this club competitive … I want everyone to be proud of the Canberra Raiders, that’s so important,” Stuart told reporters.
“And the most important thing is to win a competition … nobody understands how hard it is in regards to recruiting, luck, it plays such a vital role in regards to this competition because it’s so long.
“I’m a Canberra boy … I won’t be coaching anywhere else after this.
“But when I feel and know that I’m not the right person for the job, I’ve said to (chief executive) Don (Furner) … I will tell you, you won’t have to tell me.”
Stuart steered the side to their 2019 grand final appearance where they were cruelly denied a flag by the Sydney Roosters, but the side has taken steps backwards since and finished last year in 10th.
It’s hoped the stability his extension provides could be a boost in the race to re-sign powerhouse prop Joe Tapine, who can negotiate with other clubs from November 1 for his services for the 2024 season.
Stuart, who said Furner was handling negotiations with Tapine’s manager Jim Banaghan, heaped praise on the New Zealand international’s ability to lead the club’s upcoming generation.
“Joe’s very happy, he’s playing good football and Joe knows what he wants and I’ll leave that with Donnie and Jimmy, they’ll sort that out,” he said.
“I’m more along the lines of just letting Joe do what he’s doing at the moment because he’s playing the football of his career.
“He’s really maturing into a senior player now … he’s got the ability to captain his country and he’s in our leadership group here.”
With AAP
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