NRL 2022: Why Ricky Stuart did nothing wrong with ‘weak gutted dog’ slur, Paul Kent

Ricky Stuart could have easily rolled over and explained why he said what he said to gain sympathy, but he’s made of stronger stuff, writes PAUL KENT.

Ricky Stuart could easily explain what was said in the past to see public opinion change, but he is made of stauncher stuff, writes Paul Kent.

The testament to Ricky Stuart and this character of his they try to break is that he could easily roll over and spew out his reasons for why he said what he said on Saturday night, and watch opinions change, but he refuses.

He is made of stauncher stuff, which is how he got there in the first place.

What matters most to him today is what mattered most to him on Saturday night, which was his family.

So to protect them today, as he believes he was on Saturday, he says nothing as the outrage piles on and when a few short sentences could change it all.

Let them bleat.

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I know why Stuart said what he said, what was said all those years back to prompt it.

I have known for some time because we have been friends for even longer, a friendship that goes beyond the normal work relationship in this business where those on this side of the job are more often treated by those on that side like we live in a hole waiting for somebody to hurt, or cripple.

The story was told in private with a request it would never go public, in a conversation others have no business knowing.

Ricky Stuart could easily explain what was said in the past to see public opinion change, but he is made of stauncher stuff, writes Paul Kent.

It makes it harder to defend a man when you can’t give the reasons why. But it doesn’t mean he should not be defended.

The trick now is how the NRL views it, as public pressure on the game to suspend Stuart ramps up. The world is governed by public censure.

Andrew Voss suggested on SEN that it should be the Raiders - and not the NRL - who “take a stand” and suspend Stuart for the rest of the season.

“Can I say for the record, because we do have to take a stand - I believe Ricky Stuart should be suspended for the rest of the year,” Voss said.

“I think the Raiders should stand him down and say, ‘Ricky, it’s been a long year, I cannot excuse what happened, you can have the rest of the season off’.”

All that was left in Stuart’s favour in this case was that few were listening. The pressure on the NRL will be minimal.

Andrew Voss has called for the Raiders to stand Ricky Stuart down for the rest of the season. Picture: AAP.

Mark Geyer followed on Triple M.

“I don’t get Ricky Stuart’s side. I really don’t,” he said.

“He’s a 55-year-old male who’s coached 500 games, he’s been in the game so long, and if that was his son, how would he feel if someone said that about his son?”

Depending how far back you go, it was …

And this is also the same Geyer who was involved in suing a social influencer for mistakenly identifying his daughter as the victim in a sex video. Given that, it might be fair to assume he knows how emotions roll when family is involved.

Still …

“It’s not because I’m a Penrith ex-player, if this was anyone … people saying I’m biased, I’m not biased, I’m just putting myself in the situation of the Salmon family. If that was my son I’d be filthy. I’d be knocking on his door the next day.”

And Geyer can be sure that if it was him who said what was said all those years back, and not Salmon, Stuart would be answering his knock at the door.

As it would the other way around.

While remorseful for his comments, Stuart is proud he defended his family.

Stuart admits it was the wrong forum to say what he did.

He has apologised publicly for that.

We spoke yesterday and he refuses to consider disclosing the nature of what was said and, while again remorseful for where he said what he said, he is proudest he supported his family.

In a strange way he said the comments have provided closure for what happened all those years ago. It was not a single, isolated incident.

So while opinions here are biased, so be it.

Integrity Unit boss Jason King interviewed Stuart on Monday morning and was taken aback with the information.

Parts of Stuart’s interview were so personal the Integrity Unit will not include them in the written report. It won’t be released publicly.

Instead King will tell NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo what was revealed.

Jaeman Salmon was charged with contrary conduct for lashing out with the legs, which caused Stuart to speak out at the press conference. Picture: Getty Images.

The information will be part of the mitigating circumstances that would put the brakes on the lynch mob if they were aware of the full story but will remain difficult for the NRL to justify without.

King understands the difficulty of how much of that information should be considered when assessing the extent a breach has occurred.

In all, it will be a test of the NRL’s strength, particularly its leadership.

The question will be how the NRL weighs the circumstances it knows against the public pressure being heaped on Stuart, which is not an area the NRL has been particularly strong on.

It’s unfortunate, given the strength right there in front of them.

A simple explanation would change opinion, particularly from those who protest loudest against him, yet he stands for what he stands for.

A man defending family.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Why Ricky Stuart did nothing wrong with ‘weak gutted dog’ slur, Paul Kent