Blues weigh options as Stuart ruled out of coaching role

Ricky Stuart is out of the running to replace Brad Fittler as NSW Blues coach after his club side, the Canberra Raiders, insisted he should focus on returning them to the finals next year.

Stuart had widely been considered the man most likely to fill the role, which would have meant juggling his NRL head coaching responsibilities with leading the Blues against Billy Slater’s Queensland in next year’s Origin series.

But Canberra chief executive Don Furner told the NSW Rugby League on Wednesday that Stuart would instead concentrate on his day job with the Raiders, who he guided to a narrow 30-28 loss to Newcastle in the first week of this year’s finals series.

Fittler walked away from the position last week after being unable to agree terms with the NSWRL over the length of his contract extension and being unwilling to accept a streamlined role.

Former NSW coach Laurie Daley remains in the mix for the position after initially agreeing to be part of Fittler’s revamped support staff.

But the race has been blown wide open by Stuart’s withdrawal, proving how difficult it is for the NSWRL to lure a full-time NRL coach into the Origin fray.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been ruled out of the race for the Blues role.Credit: Getty

Daley retains support from a number of NSWRL directors who are aligned with the old Country Rugby League. He last held the position in 2017, when his NSW tenure was defined by clashes with a star-studded Maroons side that featured Slater, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.

NSWRL sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the process remains confidential, said the board was in no rush to appoint a new mentor despite Queensland locking in Slater for another three years.

The board presented another proposal to the ARL Commission on Wednesday, seeking clarity over the NSWRL’s funding structure from next year.

It remains a sticking point for the NSWRL directors, who are still unsure how much money they will be able to invest in next year’s Origin program as they try to avoid a third straight series defeat.

Laurie Daley previously coached the Blues until 2017.Credit: NRL Photos

Meanwhile, South Sydney have formally announced Jason Demetriou will remain at the helm of the Rabbitohs until the end of 2026 despite the club’s late-season collapse which led to them missing the finals.

“It is an absolute honour to coach this club and I feel very privileged to be extending my time at South Sydney,” Demetriou said.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges ahead of us in 2024.”

Ben Hornby will remain as Demetriou’s senior assistant until the end of 2025.

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