Ricky Stuart’s antics under investigation

Ricky Stuart’s media conference drew attention for what he didn’t say but his antics on the sideline will be investigated by the NRL.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has attracted fines totalling more than $100,000 during his career Picture: Getty Images

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart had little to say after his side’s heroic loss on Saturday afternoon but he may have a case to answer anyway.

The NRL was already looking at Stuart’s abbreviated press conference – he walked out after answering one question because he feared saying something he would regret – but it subsequently emerged his behaviour on the sideline on Saturday afternoon found its way into the ground manager’s report.

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The NRL integrity unit is obliged to delve deeper into the matter on Monday morning and Stuart could be on the receiving end of another fine should he be found to have crossed the line with the language he directed towards referee Henry Perenara.

While the Raiders coach kept his counsel after the game, he found it hard to control his emotions at times during the match as he watched his side from a plastic chair on the sidelines as they put up a valiant fight despite an horrific injury toll.

The Raiders played most of the game with only one man on the interchange bench and precious little went their way in the second half, the most notable incident a pass that looked forward in the lead-up to one of the Warriors’ tries.

The Raiders couldn’t catch a break. While the Warriors were awarded three set restarts, undermanned Canberra were given none.

Every decision that went against his side tested Stuart’s patience and it may leave a hole in his hip pocket. The Canberra coach has been slugged with fines of more than $100,000 over the course of his career for criticism of the match officials but he no doubt walked away from GIO Stadium on Saturday afternoon confident he was in the clear.

Coincidentally, Perenara was promoted from reserve grade to handle the game after Matt Cecchin fell ill. Stuart and Perenara go way back – Stuart was his coach at Cronulla in Perenara’s last year of first grade in 2007.