Panthers playmaker Jaeman Salmon reportedly seeks legal advice after Ricky Stuart’s post-match tirade

Jaemon Salmon’s family has responded to Raiders coach Ricky Stuart’s stunning post-match remarks about the Panthers half.

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

The family of Jaeman Salmon has called for the NRL to “take action” after Canberra coach Ricky Stuart called him a “weak gutted dog” in an extraordinary press conference on Saturday night.

It comes as the fallout from the wild interview saw reports Salmon was seeking legal advice.

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Raiders coach Stuart did release an apology of sorts on Sunday but didn’t appear to apologise to the player, rather that the situation occurred.

Stuart launched a stunning tirade at Salmon after the Panthers five-eighth was placed on report for a kick aimed at Raiders hooker Tom Starling during Saturday evening’s 26-6 victory.

Salmon had lashed out with his boot after a tackle from Starling in the 60th minute of the Round 21 contest.

“The James Fisher-Harris and Joe Tapine tackles are accidents and in this collision game I understand that,” Stuart told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“But where Salmon kicked Tommy (Starling), it ain’t on.

“I have had history with that kid (Salmon). I know that kid very well.

“He was a weak gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He is a weak gutted dog person now.”

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Salmon is seeking legal advice and potentially considering defamation charges.

The 23-year-old was reportedly keen to speak to the media after he was made aware of Stuart’s comments, but the Panthers advised him otherwise.

Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the NRL Integrity Unit would be looking into the matter.

Salmon’s family did break their silence on Sunday afternoon however.

“We were disappointed by the comments of Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart after what was a fantastic game of football for the Panthers and our son, Jaeman,” the statement read.

“We were surprised by Ricky’s claim that he knows Jaeman personally as they have had no contact since Jae was 12 years old.

“We are calling on the NRL to take action as we believe Jaeman has been wronged in this situation. We will follow the correct procedures and let the NRL complete a thorough investigation.”

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

It comes after Stuart apologised for his comments in a statement on Sunday morning: “I regret saying what I did on that platform after the game. I was speaking as a father and not as a football coach.

“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.”

According to a News Corp report, the animosity between Stuart and Salmon stems from an incident during an under 12’s game in 2010 which left Stuart’s son in tears.

Rugby league icon Phil Gould was stunned by the broadside, revealing Stuart’s son had played with Salmon in Penrith’s junior system.

“When Ricky said he’s known this kid for a while, he has,” Gould told Channel 9.

“Certainly Ricky on reflection saying he’s not apologising and he’s standing by what he said is rather extraordinary because I’ve never heard a coach say anything like that at a press conference.

“I can’t imagine anything that would make me say something like that at a press conference.

“Ricky’s going to have to have very good reason and I don’t know how he substantiates that … I think Jaeman Salmon would have action against him for remarks like that.

“I know his team’s been knocked out tonight and that’s probably the end of their finals charge … but he’s too experienced a campaigner to react so emotionally in an environment like that where he has been so many times throughout his career. It’s not as though he’s a rookie.”

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was asked about Starling’s tackle and Stuart’s comments in his post-match press conference.

“I don’t know, it is hard to see on our small screen,” he told reporters.

“I can’t imaging Jaeman would have deliberately done that, but I honestly didn’t see it.

“I don’t think I need to respond to those comments (from Stuart).

“I know what Jaeman is like and he is valuable in our club and we love him, so that is all that matters to us.”

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Former Brisbane Broncos captain Corey Parker also believed that Stuart overstepped the mark, claiming he could face a sanction from the NRL over the public outburst.

“I can’t think in my time of an incident that has happened like that where a coach has gone after a player or said some things about a player,” Parker said on Fox League.

“It will be really interesting to see what comes of it over the next couple of days.

“But the optics aren’t great, particularly being in the position that Ricky is being a head coach.”

Stuart has racked up more than $120,000 in monetary penalties over his 21-year coaching career, including a $20,000 fine in 2015 for walking out on a press conference and refusing to speak to the media.