Ricky Stuart to NRL: Be ‘brave’ and calm dangerous Storm tactics

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has taken aim at the Melbourne Storm’s illegal wrestling moves, telling the NRL to stand up to the powerhouse club and crack down on the tactics.

Ricky Stuart says the NRL must stand up to Melbourne’s wrestling tactics. Picture: Kym Smith

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Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has called on the NRL to be “brave enough” to stamp out illegal wrestling tactics as the Raiders prepare to face Melbourne.

The Storm have been accused this week of not playing “in the spirit of the game” in relation to their tactics at the ruck.

Melbourne are believed to have introduced wrestling and the dangerous crusher tackle, with prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona escaping sanction last week.

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Ricky Stuart says the NRL must stand up to Melbourne’s wrestling tactics. Picture: Kym Smith

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Stuart slammed the governing body for not standing up to the powerhouse club, the day before their top-four showdown in Melbourne.

“I don’t agree with the illegal stuff that happens on the ground. There has to be someone brave enough to stand up (to it),” Stuart said.

“It’s not just at the Melbourne Storm, any illegal foul tactic on the ground, I believe there is a responsibly with our people in charge of the game to get rid of it.”

Melbourne’s tactics have again come under fire in recent weeks. Picture: Ashley Feder

One rule Stuart doesn’t want to see changed is the new stripping laws. The NRL introduced rules last season that allow players to leave a tackle so their teammate can perform a one-on-one strip before the contest is complete.

The Raiders have perfected the art and have 23 one-on-one steals this season, more than double the next best which is Melbourne with 11.

The Sydney Roosters were Canberra’s latest victims last weekend which prompted coach Trent Robinson to call for the rule to be scrapped.

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“I thought it was a ridiculous comment last week about having to eliminate that rule,” Stuart said.

“When you can’t do something it doesn’t mean we have to get rid of it,” he said.

“Because we do it well, does that mean we’ve got to be punished for it? Go and practice it, go and do a little bit more work on it like we do and you might get it right.

“We practice it, we know when to perform it and the boys do it very well. They shouldn’t be punished for it just because some other people want to see it barred out of the game.

“It actually adds a bit of excitement to the game. Yeah OK, we get it right but we get strips against us and I haven’t walked off the field and blown up and said we should get rid of the rule.”

Originally published as Ricky Stuart to NRL: Be ‘brave’ and calm dangerous Storm tactics