NRL reap the rewards of Ricky Stuart’s green-eyed vision

Canberra’s stunning run to the NRL grand final is a victory for rugby league, and Ricky Stuart deserves every accolade possible for his bold plan that’s finally paid off, writes Gorden Tallis.

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Ricky Stuart is one of those characters in rugby league that can rub some people the wrong way.

But you know what, he has got us all tapping our toes to the “Green Machine” song and doing the Viking clap for the next week.

It is so good for rugby league to have the Raiders in the 2019 NRL grand final.

Teams like the Storm, Roosters and Manly have been regular visitors to the big dance in the past decade or so, so to have that lime green jumper running around in a decider will make this year’s grand final really special.

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Ricky Stuart deserves huge praise for what he has achieved with Canberra.

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Ricky and everyone at the Raiders organisation deserve a giant Viking clap for all the hard work they have done to get the club to within 80 minutes of a premiership.

It hasn’t happened overnight.

But Ricky has got everybody to buy in to his vision.

They all know what they are doing and where they are going. They know who they are. They are a team that embraces and plays for their community and boy oh boy, has their community embraced them back.

He has developed young players and has got senior players producing the best footy of their careers. He has also tapped into the English talent pool with great results.

Stuart has the entire community buzzing about the Raiders.

The atmosphere at the preliminary final in Canberra was awesome. I have always said that I want to take my sons to a game at Leichhardt Oval so we can sit on the hill on a Sunday arvo.

Canberra has become one of those must-visit games now too. Even though it gets a little cold for this Townsville born-and-bred boy.

The pride and passion is alive and kicking on and off the field for the Raiders.

And Ricky is a big part of why that has returned.

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Some people thought that he may not have been the best choice to coach that club.

But you know what, he loves that club and he bled in that jersey.

Those Raiders teams from the late 80s and 90s were unbelievable. The side that won the 1994 grand final is in the conversation about the best club side ever assembled.

Brett Mullins at fullback, Kenny Nagas and Noa Nadruku on the wings, Big Mal and Reuben Wiki in the centres. Laurie Daley and Ricky in the halves. And a pack with the great Steve Walters, Brad Clyde with two tough Kiwis up front in John Lomax and Quentin Pongia.

What a team! One of the many great things about Canberra playing in their first grand final in 25 years is that memories of those great sides are flooding back.

Look around the NRL these days and you’ll see former Raiders from the club’s glory days in positions of power all over the place.

That speaks to the culture of the club back then and the success they had.

And make no mistake, the lime green mafia are as thick as thieves too because they went through a lot together and forged a bond that could not be beaten on and off the paddock.

Ricky was a central figure in that as a player. And he is in the thick of things in Canberra’s second coming.

Originally published as NRL reap the rewards of Ricky Stuart’s green-eyed vision