Ricky Stuart to lead Raiders through to 2029 as club hunts ‘ultimate prize’

Ricky Stuart has pledged himself to the Canberra Raiders for another five years, with the veteran NRL helmsman now set to lead the biggest rugby league club in the nation’s capital through to 2029.

Stuart, who has already led the Raiders for more than 250 games, has made it clear he wants to end his career guiding the green machine to a premiership.

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“My ultimate goal is to change every one of my players’ lives that I coach, in regards to one day hoping we can get to win a grand final because it changes your life, you’re a premiership-winning player,” Stuart told media on Wednesday.

“There’s not a coach out there that doesn’t want to win a premiership, they just don’t all say it because it puts too much pressure on them. I’m happy to put pressure on myself.

“I want to win a competition and I want to win it at this club.”

Those ambitions align perfectly with Raiders brass, who see Stuart as the man for the job. He has already led Canberra through several different eras since joining in 2014, including a grand final appearance in 2019. He boasts a 51.8 percent win rate while leading the team and is the club’s longest-serving custodian.

“[Stuart’s] re-signing until the end of the decade provides continuity and certainty for a playing group which we believe has the potential to deliver the ultimate prize in the coming years,” Raiders chairman Dennis Richardson said.

“The Raiders are in the process of moving through a significant transition, with one of the youngest playing squads in the NRL and we see Ricky as a central part of that transition. His values and character have been an important ingredient in the attraction of the young talent we’ve been able to bring to the club in recent times.”

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“As everyone knows, Ricky is very much a part of the Canberra, Queanbeyan and regional community and his commitment and passion for the green machine is legendary.”