Raiders coach Ricky Stuart fights tears in emotional moment in Las Vegas

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart left NRL greats in amazement as he struggled to contain his emotions on live TV in Las Vegas.

Next time you see the grouchy Ricky Stuart this season — remember this side of the infamously combative coach.

The Raiders legend struggled to control his emotions when speaking after his team’s season-opening win over the Warriors in Las Vegas on Sunday.

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Canberra put on a show to run away with a 30-8 victory at Allegiant Stadium with Xavier Savage scoring a double.

Stuart said throughout the week his team felt a responsibility to do the sport proud in Vegas — and having achieved just that — his emotions poured out after the game.

Speaking on Fox League with Yvonne O’Keefe, Warriors legend Shaun Johnson and Broncos icon Gorden Tallis — Stuart was emotional as soon as he was handed the microphone.

You can watch the moment in the video player above.

Ricky Stuart struggled with his feelings on Fox League.

“We’ve been proud to be a part of this,” he said before needing a moment to compose himself. “It’s a great occasion.”

Stuart was back to his controlled self when asked about his team’s performance.

“People underestimate these guys,” he said.

“They’re a tough forward pack,” he said of his team.

“They played against a tough forward pack tonight. That was brutal in the middle tonight. You’re playing against two rep players in Barnie (Mitch Barnett) and James Fisher Harris. They’ve got good edge. They’re a good footy team the Warriors. We knew it was going to be a battle.

“We’ve had a really, really good off-season and I think it showed.”

He again showed his pride later in the interview.

“There’s two things we had to do. All four teams. And they’ve done it,” he said.

Ricky Stuart, head coach of the Raiders looks on at Allegiant Stadium. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.

“To come here and promote the game and then come here and try to win. And I reckon the four teams have done a wonderful job in regards to the promotion of rugby league here in America.”

Stuart’s emotions clearly left the Fox League panel amazed.

Johnson said after Stuart had stepped away: “Just listening to Stick there. I dunno, I feel a sense of happiness there. He just seemed very proud and vulnerable just now about what that just meant to him and his crew”.

Tallis said: “You can see the emotions coming out of Ricky”.

Stuart was a surprise choice to be the focus of a feature story in The New York Post this week.

The iconic newspaper referred to Stuart as “one of the all-time trash talkers”.

This time his players did the talking.

The Green Machine’s performance has already surprised many who tipped the club to miss the finals this year.

“This is a statement. They’ve barely made a mistake,” Braith Anasta said on Fox League.

Stuart will love that too.

Originally published as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart fights tears in emotional moment in Las Vegas