NRL 2022: Canberra Raiders will accept any penalty for coach Ricky Stuart’s ‘weak-gutted dog’ outburst

The Canberra Raiders are anxiously waiting what could be a huge penalty for coach Ricky Stuart after his “weak-gutted dog” outburst.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said his emotions got the better of him. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The Canberra Raiders will accept any NRL penalty for coach Ricky Stuart’s “weak-gutted dog” outburst as league officials weigh up how to sanction the premiership winner.

Stuart it set to be penalised by the NRL for his post-match press conference outburst at Penrith player Jaeman Salmon, amid calls for the coach to be stood down for the remainder of the season.

While they wait for the league to conclude its investigation, Raiders chief executive Don Furner said the club didn’t condone Stuart’s comments and would cop the penalty without question.

“As a club we do not condone the comments made by Ricky in Saturday night’s press conference and we are currently in dialogue with the NRL and co-operating with all their inquiries,” Furner said in a statement on Monday.

“We will accept their findings and any sanctions they hand down.

“Being a head coach is a high-pressure job and comes with intense scrutiny from fans, media, and public and we understand emotion is high following a match.”

The Canberra Raiders have issued the following statement regarding comments made by Head Coach Ricky Stuart in Saturday night's press conference. https://t.co/ieNArfRWLd

— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) August 8, 2022

Stuart launched into Salmon for lashing out with his boot after a tackle from Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the 60th minute of Saturday’s clash, which the Raiders lost.

Salmon was put on report for the incident and subsequently fined $1000, but Stuart apologised on Sunday for his comments while Salmon’s family and Penrith are reportedly seeking legal advice.

Stuart apologised for the comments coming out in public but not directly to Salmon, revealing a history between himself and the player stretching back more than a decade.

“I regret saying what I did on that platform after the game. I was speaking as a father and not as a football coach,” Stuart said.

“My reaction was to a family situation that I thought I had dealt with, clearly I haven’t.

“I allowed my emotions to get the better of me and for that I am very sorry.

“There is a history between Jaeman Salmon and my family that I will not go into.

“I should not have brought it up after the game, but it just got the better of me.

“I am truly sorry that I have caused my family and the game unwarranted attention.”