Raiders give green light for Ricky Stuart to coach NSW Blues but with one caveat

The Canberra Raiders have given the green light for veteran mentor Ricky Stuart to coach the NSW Blues next season – but with one significant condition.

Brad Fittler’s time as NSW coach may be over. Picture: NRL Photos

Canberra will allow Ricky Stuart to coach NSW – but there would be a caveat.

While a decision on the Blues’ coaching position won’t be finalised until October, Stuart has been touted as a possible replacement should incumbent Brad Fittler be sacked or quit.

It comes as Fittler refused to declare his intention to seek the NSW coaching position again for next year.

Out of respect for Fittler, his friend and former teammate, Stuart has refused to express a desire for the NSW job.

Some NRL clubs may deny their coach taking on the heavy burden of coaching NSW but Canberra won’t stop Stuart if he is given the top job.

That however would depend on whether Stuart has his experienced existing assistant coaches – Michael Maguire and Mick Crawley – at the Raiders.

Canberra’s board would feel comfortable letting Stuart leave for Origin as long as the premiership-winning Maguire was there to temporarily take over.

Ricky Stuart was a champion player for NSW and is now an experienced coach.

Maguire has been linked to several rival clubs, including Newcastle, although Adam O’Brien’s job appears safe for now.

Fierce and passionate, Stuart has been urged by some former NSW players to consider taking on the Blues coaching job he has twice previously held in 2005 and again in 2011-12.

Fittler was reluctant to put his hand up for next year’s series and urged the NSWRL not to rush into a decision for 2024.

“It’s just about getting the best person, let’s worry about that first and we’ll talk about that (my future) and we’ll take it from there,” Fittler said on Channel 9.

When asked if he still had a desire to lead NSW into the future, Fittler was coy, only saying: “We’ll see.”

Fittler called on the expertise of premiership winning coach Ivan Cleary last Wednesday night and wouldn’t rule out leaning on the Panthers coach again if he kept his job.

“Going forward? Let’s worry about the other thing first. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Fittler said. “I just learned a lot. I think anytime you put good people around you like that, you give yourself the ability to learn. He was a good addition.

“You can tell coaches who have been in all the time, they know what’s coming up and they know which way the game is going to roll. It was good to get his insights. He’s been in the box hundreds of times, in big games. He’s an intelligent and calm bloke.”

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Fittler’s demise isn’t as certain as many believe. He still has influential support but may elect to stand down after six straight series – the longest consecutive run of any NSW Origin coach.

Stuart has previously told critics of Fittler to back off.

“It’s not a matter of talking about who or what (as a replacement). Brad is our coach and we’ve got to get around him when he’s in need,” Stuart said last week.

The QRL is eager to retain coach Billy Slater beyond this series but the Maroons mentor isn’t yet ready to recommit.

“I think we’ll just let the dust settle, we are only a few days after the Origin series and work out what’s best for everyone,” Slater said.

“There’s a lot (to unfold) before the series, there’s a lot mentally and emotionally. You have to consider a lot of parts of your life (like) your family. This team has been a big part of my life for a long time.”

Originally published as Raiders give green light for Ricky Stuart to coach NSW Blues but with one caveat