‘Don’t trust coaches’: Ricky Stuart blasts NRL, RLPA over doctor drama

After a dramatic start to the season, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has slammed the NRL and Rugby League Players’ Association.

Ricky Stuart wasn't happy. Photo: NRL

Ricky Stuart has blasted the NRL and Rugby League Players' Association after his fullback Sebastian Kris was sent for a head injury assessment despite getting treatment on a leg complaint.

It’s continued a controversial start to the season after the independent doctor has been slammed for intervening in three matches so far in round one.

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On Friday night, Knights star Kalyn Ponga was sent for a HIA with 12 minutes left on the clock and the game on the line.

His coach Adam O’Brien slammed the call, saying: “We’ve worked really hard, he has to get himself back in the game and now we are jumping at shadows to get him out of the game, I don’t get it.”

In the Bulldogs loss to the Sea Eagles, Cameron Ciraldo blasted the HIA for Jacob Kiraz, saying “he was clearly fine”.

“I haven’t seen the incident where he got hit yet, he might have got a big knock on his head but he was clearly fine,” Ciraldo said. “It made things hard for us, but it is what it is and they’re the rules. We have to be better at managing that period there.”

Ricky Stuart erupted. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

And now Stuart has unloaded on the NRL and RLPA over the drama.

“The RLPA, the NRL, they don’t trust coaches mate,” Stuart said. “Do you think I’d let a player play if he has a concussion or is concussed?

“I don’t just trust the players comments when it comes to the sideline but when he’s down getting his leg attended to and I ask him and there’s no fatigue and there was no pain in his eyes when he come off. He was very coherent. That didn’t help us in that game.

“But the RLPA, they don’t trust coaches. All they want to do is come and talk to me about how much more time off the players are going to get and how much more money.

“I didn't hear anybody from the RLPA come out and try to go to the NRL in regards to playing up here at 4.30 in the afternoon. We’re very lucky it wasn’t the humidity it was yesterday because I think it could have been dangerous for the players’ welfare.”

Earlier on Saturday, Wayne Bennett called for the independent doctor to be scrapped over the Ponga drama.

“We don’t need a doctor in a box,” Bennett said ahead of his Dolphins side’s NRL premiership debut against the Roosters on Sunday.

“The solution is make the clubs more accountable, that’s what I’m saying.

“Get the guy out of the box, because that’s why the NRL put him in there, to be trusted enough to make the right decision.

“We realised that last year (the system had flaws) but nothing changed with it.

“The game has never been more conscious about game injuries and we do a lot of things right, but all they (the NRL) have done is taken the onus off the clubs and put it on somebody independent.

“I can understand why (the NRL introduced an independent doctor), but I don’t see the need for it in the first place.

Asked if he agreed with Bennett’s comments, Stuart said: “I don’t agree with him very often but I do."

Kris after the loss. Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

While Cowboys coach Todd Payten didn’t have as strong an opinion as Stuart, he appeared to talk himself around to be on the NRL’s side.

“I like that if you lay down and try and milk a penalty then you’ve got to come off, and that’s happened over the past couple of days,” Payten said.

“For me, that will eliminate guys trying to get a penalty out of the ref but the NRL made these changes based on a lack of trust and I’m happy to continue the way it’s going.”

As for the performance, despite a 19-18 loss, Stuart was proud of his side, who bounced back from 18-0 down just before halftime.

Emre Guler gave the Raiders some hope as he crashed over just before the break.

While it was still 18-6 at the break, it left the door ajar and the Raiders turned the tables in the second half, locking the sides at 18-all in the 58th minute.

However, a Chad Townsend field goal in the 75th minute sealed a brutal win in sapping heat in North Queensland.

Stuart had nothing but praise for defensive coach Michael Maguire and said “that defensive tonight, being game one of the year, we’ve had some great defensive moments and great defensive games over the years, I know how much work defensive coaches put in, and tonight equals it. That was an unbelievable defensive effort,” Stuart said.