‘Don’t start reading your own press’: Ricky Stuart’s warning to high-flying Canberra Raiders after Magic Round win

Ricky Stuart isn’t afraid to dish out a good spray of his playing group, not just for losses either, with the coach issuing a brutal dressing room warning to his team after their Magic Round victory.

In a brutal dressing room warning to his high-flying team, Canberra coach Ricky Stuart told his players last Sunday: “Don’t start reading your own press.”

And a forthright Stuart then told the club’s players in their inner-sanctum: “Those telling you how good you are will be the same ones that will bash you up when things don’t go our way.”

Stuart’s post-game speech after Canberra’s golden point win over Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night was relayed to this masthead on Wednesday.

Onlookers in the dressing room stressed Stuart was desperately attempting to keep the team grounded despite the Raiders sitting second on the NRL competition ladder after nine rounds.

Stuart told his players: “We got away with that one but it’s only round nine.

“They (media, fans) will all tell you how good you’re going but they’re the same ones that will bash you up when things don’t go our way.

“It’s not about hiding from the media but we haven’t done anything yet.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart issued a warning to his Raiders in the wake of their Magic Round win. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“Don’t start reading your own press.”

This masthead chose to eliminate some of Stuart’s expletives.

When contacted to discuss his side’s success and what he said post-game in Magic Round, Stuart only said: “I’m not interested in doing anything because we haven’t done anything yet. It’s only round ten.”

Stuart’s Raiders face a huge test this Saturday afternoon with a massive game against competition frontrunners Canterbury at GIO Stadium.

It is the first one v two premiership game in Canberra since round 14, 2003, when the first placed Raiders played second-placed Brisbane.

Raiders CEO Don Furner said his club was refusing to think about long-term success, despite a booming start to the year.

“It’s been a great start to the season and we’re all excited but it’s only round ten and there is a long way to go in this competition,” Furner said.

“We have a big game this Saturday against Canterbury but we’re keeping things very grounded.

Ricky Stuart and the Raiders face a mighty test this week. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“I have said for a long time that we have the bravest fans in the competition. They sit through the heat and the freezing cold.

“We have a great batch of fans and we’re happy to be rewarding them. There’s nothing better than being in a one-team town when you’re winning but we’re staying grounded.”

Former Test and Origin player Bryan Fletcher let his admiration for Canberra be known by declaring: “They are the real deal.”

Canberra has won seven from nine games this season, the Bulldogs having claimed eight from nine.

The Raiders still haven’t cut through on a betting level with TAB markets placing them sixth on the line of premiership betting at $13.

Canberra is $1.70 favourites for the GI Stadium game with Canterbury $2.10 outsiders.

Despite all the club’s success, Canberra has only ever won one minor premiership, that being in 1990.