NRL 2023 Round 14 news: Canberra Raiders win 20-19 over Wests Tigers, Ricky Stuart slams critics over Jarrod Croker resting
Ricky Stuart has launched a scathing attack at his critics, slamming the ‘muppets’ who questioned his decision to rest Jarrod Croker, after the Raiders survived a late scare.
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Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has delivered a stunning broadside to the critics who questioned his decision to rest captain Jarrod Croker against the Wests Tigers, describing them as muppets who have no idea about leadership.
Speaking after the Raiders’ gripping 20-19 win over the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium, Stuart bristled when asked about the decision to wrap Croker in cotton wool so he could celebrate his 300th game for the club on home soil.
“It was a risk – In leadership, you have to take a risk,” Stuart said.
“These muppets who have been bagging me, they are all the guys who will read the textbooks and talk about courageous leadership, man management and they will go out and talk at corporate functions. but they can’t execute it.
“They can’t actually execute it. They are not the people I want in my football team, they are not the people I want in the trenches with me.
“What I did was the right thing by all our Canberra fans. I was open and honest which I was probably wrong to be open and honest,
Extraordinary spray from Ricky Stuart in his press conference. Labelling those who criticised his decision to rest Jarrod Croker as ‘muppets’. Said he probably should have just ‘lied’ about why Croker was left out to save the trouble. Got & watch it #NRL#NRLTigersRaiders
— Jake Duke (@JakeDuke1) June 2, 2023
“I may as well lie. It really shitted me off that these so-called experts who have never man-managed and never been leaders in regards to making tough decisions – and that was a big risk tonight and I knew I was going to cop it if we got beaten – but I was prepared to take the risks.
“That is leadership. Not these other muppets who pretend they know.”
Croker’s absence was felt but it didn’t cost the Raiders victory after halfback Jamal Fogarty kicked a penalty goal in the dying minutes to secure the win. The Raiders led 18-0 with 12 minutes remaining but conceded three tries in a matter of minutes after hooker Tom Starling was sent to the sin bin.
After mounting an incredible comeback attempt the Tigers looked destined to win. However, a late tackle from Wests Tigers’ Isaiah Papali’i in the dying minutes cost his side victory.
The Raiders scraped home 20-19 thanks to a Fogarty penalty goal with a tick over two minutes remaining on Friday night.
It came after Fogarty had a crack at field goal to tie the game with the Tigers leading 19-18 when Papali’i attempted a charge down and collected the Raiders half-back’s legs late. Referee Gerard Sutton had little choice but to blow the penalty, giving Fogarty a shot at goal from in front of the posts to win the game.
The victory took a back seat afterwards as Stuart cut loose.
“This will be one of the biggest events we have had for a player in Canberra,” Stuart said.
“I have made a decision that I want Jarrod to play his 300th at home. It will be a big event for the club. We get nothing. We’re just brawlers. We’re good at it and we are happy to be proud of it.
“But we will have a great even this week and Jarrod Croker deserves everything he gets.”
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