NRL hand Ricky Stuart one week suspension and $25k fine for Jaeman Salman “weak-gutted dog” comment
The NRL has come down hard on Ricky Stuart, with the Canberra coach handed a suspension and fine for his post-match comments about Panthers star Jaeman Salmon.
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NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has slammed Canberra coach Ricky Stuart for his comments regarding Penrith’s Jaeman Salmon, describing them as “completely unacceptable”.
Stuart has been suspended for one game and fined $25,000 for calling Salmon a “weak-gutted dog” after last Saturday’s loss to the Panthers.
Abdo has ensured Stuart will be the one left out of pocket for the outburst forbidding the Raiders from paying the fine on his behalf.
As revealed by The Daily Telegraph online on Monday, Stuart will miss ninth-placed Canberra’s vital match against St George Illawarra on Sunday at GIO Stadium.
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“Leaders need to set the standard in the game. The comments are completely unacceptable from any individual let alone an official of such experience and standing,” Abdo said.
“This is a highly unusual case, and we have taken the significant step of proposing a suspension from his duties for one week. This will be a full suspension precluding Ricky from having any involvement with any club activity either in person or remotely. Furthermore, the fine must not be paid by the club but by Ricky himself.”
Canberra will abide by the NRL’s ruling.
The Panthers released a statement on Tuesday afternoon saying the club “fully supports the decision by the NRL to sanction Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart for comments made towards Panthers player Jaeman Salmon”.
“Panthers is disappointed by the original comments made by Stuart on Saturday night, and believes that there is no place in the game for such comments. The club does not tolerate verbal abuse towards any member of the Panthers playing squad.”
The Panthers said they were monitoring Salmon’s wellbeing as his teammates rallied around the five-eighth.
“It was a little bit of shock at first,” utility Mitch Kenny said.
“I thought someone was having a bit of a joke.
“But it’s a bit disappointing, those comments. We know who Jaeman is, Jaeman knows who he is and so does his family, so we try to not let that affect him too much. We’ll all be supporting him through this time and we’ll move forward as a club.
“He had all the boys and the coaching staff around him straight away, so we’re giving him as much support as we can.
“It was disappointing and I can’t imagine what it’s like being him or his family at the minute with that stuff circulating, but he’s in a pretty good place.”
Halves partner Sean O’Sullivan, who along with Salmon, helped orchestrate a 20-point win over the Raiders with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai missing, added: “I think he was a bit rattled by it all.
“It’s never nice to see someone saying anything about you, and obviously with social media these days, it’s not just one comment. There are thousands of people online.
“He’s fine and he understands that he can’t let external influences dictate how he feels.
“He’s someone we value at the club and he’s friends with every single person in this organisation. I can’t speak highly enough of Jaeman.”
RICKY REVEALS REASON FOR SALMON SLUR
On Monday, the NRL launched its investigation into Stuart’s post-match comments with Head of Integrity Jason King formally interviewing the Raiders coach for 25 minutes on Monday morning. King also spoke for 15 minutes with Canberra chief executive Don Furner.
Canberra management has also offered Stuart the opportunity to stand down for a match.
“I have spoken to Jason King from the Integrity Unit,” Stuart said.
“Confidentially, I’ve given him the reasons behind my comments. I don’t want to comment any further.”
While Stuart refused to divulge any details from the meeting with King, a source close to the NRL said Stuart’s comments were sparked by an issue involving Salmon and two of his children when he was coach of Cronulla 12 years ago.
The source described it as a “deeply, deeply personal and complicated matter”.
Stuart has three children – Jackson, Jed and Emma, and is fiercely protective of his family.
Stuart’s outburst followed Salmon lashing out with his boot while being tackled by Raiders hooker Tom Starling on Saturday night.
King confirmed he met with Stuart but did not wish to comment. He will hand his final report to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo sometime in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Canberra will allow the NRL to determine any punishment for Stuart, who admitted it was a mistake to condemn Salmon in a public forum. ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys is thoroughly across the issue.
The NRL will give Stuart “due process” before reaching a decision on a possible penalty.
Furner, who is close friends with Stuart and has been monitoring the under-pressure coach’s welfare since Saturday night, issued a statement on Monday.
“As a club we do not condone the comments made by Ricky in Saturday night’s press conference and we are currently in dialogue with the NRL and co-operating with all their inquiries. We will accept their findings and any sanctions they hand down,” Furner said.
“Being a head coach is a high-pressure job and comes with intense scrutiny from fans, media, and public and we understand emotion is high following a match.
“However, as a club we acknowledge that coaches also have a responsibility to ensure they conduct themselves professionally when making public comment.
“Ricky has already publicly apologised for his actions on Saturday night, and we will continue to support him both professionally and personally.”
Stuart has surrounded himself with family and friends over the past two days but is said to be struggling with his comments and the public fallout.
The coach is trying to somehow shift his attention towards Sunday’s clash with St George Illawarra at GIO Stadium – a game both teams must win to remain in finals contention.
Stuart faces unprecedented punishment for slur
An incensed NRL will take severe action against Ricky Stuart which could include the unprecedented step of suspending the Canberra coach.
It is one of several punishment options the NRL will consider after Stuart’s post-match spray on Saturday night when he labelled Penrith five-eighth Jaeman Salmon a “weak gutted dog.”
Stuart has tallied about $135,000 in fines since his NRL coaching debut in 2002.
A match suspension, and undertaking educational programs, is now a possibility.
Any contracted person who is registered and accredited to the NRL and commits a breach can face a range of possible penalties, including suspension.
The NRL is taking the matter seriously with Stuart possibly confronting a two-game suspension.
He could also be banned from attending post-game media conferences for the rest of this season.
Salmon lashed out with his boots in the 60th minute of Saturday’s match in Canberra, hitting Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the groin and face.
It drew a stunning response with Stuart saying: “Where Salmon kicked Tommy, it ain’t on.
“I’ve had history with that kid (Salmon), 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.”
The Salmon family released a statement on Sunday.
“We were surprised by Ricky’s claim that he knows Jaeman personally as they have had no contact since Jae was 12-years old,” the statement read.
“We are calling on the NRL to take action as we believe Jaeman has been wronged in this situation.”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo described the remarks as “very serious” and “disappointing”.
The NRL Integrity Unit has launched an immediate investigation into Stuart’s comments with the sanction to be handed down early this week.
Penrith is closely monitoring Salmon’s welfare.
A decade-long feud between Stuart and Salmon is believed to be behind the extraordinary attack.
The Daily Telegraph understands the animosity between the two stretches as far back as 2010, involving an incident between Stuart’s son and Salmon during an under 12’s game in the Sutherland Shire.
Stuart’s son was left in tears after the run-in with Salmon. When Stuart and Salmon’s father got involved, the two had to be separated as the incident became heated.
There was speculation Salmon may even initiate legal action against Stuart although the player’s manager, Sam Ayoub, said: “Obviously emotions are high and lots of people are saying different things but my advice to Jaeman, or anybody else, would be to wait for things to cool. It’s realistically not a path that I would be suggesting or recommending.”
Stuart issued a statement on Sunday, saying: “I regret saying what I did on that platform after the game. I was speaking as a father and not as a football coach.
“My reaction was to a family situation that I thought I had dealt with, clearly I haven’t. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me and for that I am very sorry.
“There is a history between Jaeman Salmon and my family that I will not go into. I should not have brought it up after the game, but it just got the better of me.
“I am truly sorry that I have caused my family and the game unwarranted attention.”
Panthers players were supporting a “rattled” Salmon.
“We spoke to Jaeman after the game and I think he was a little rattled by it. But we all know the type of person Jaeman is and we love him on-and-off the field. Everyone in the organisation is supporting him,” Panthers teammate Sean O’Sullivan told 9.
Salmon was charged with grade one contrary conduct for the incident with Starling and will be fined $1000 with an early plea or $1500 if he fights and loses at a judiciary hearing.
A Panthers statement read in part: “With respect to the comments made post-game Saturday night, the club is monitoring the situation.
Salmon’s wellbeing is the club’s priority, and Panthers is ensuring he is supported at this time.”
Ayoub spoke of his client’s disappointment in Stuart’s comment but did not want the matter to be taken any further.
“He (Salmon) was a little rattled on Saturday night. His family was too. I spoke to him on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning and he’s still upset by it but understands there is a bit of history,” said Ayoub.
“I guess it’s unwanted history. Jaeman has genuinely turned his life and personality around for the better. He is a really good kid and everyone who knows him has a love and respect for him.”
Abdo said the NRL would interview Stuart before determining whether action would be taken.
“Clearly the comments are disappointing and we are going to take a close look at it,” Abdo told the Big Sports Breakfast Weekend radio program. “It has only just happened on Saturday night and everyone deserves due process.
“We will engage with Ricky, understand all the facts and gather all the information and then deal with it through the early part of this coming week. I won’t make any comment on it, it’s a live matter and clearly it’s very serious.
“Whenever there is an issue like this we ask the integrity team to gather the information and have a look at it. Obviously, as a decision-maker, I also need to involve myself and speak to the respective parties as well.”
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