Amidst much speculation in recent times that he would leave the club at the end of the year, Parramatta Eels coach Ricky Stuart reportedly quit the organisation late on Wednesday night to sign with Canberra Raiders.
According to reports from The Daily Telegraph, Stuart will sign a three-year deal with former club the Canberra Raiders that will commence in 2014.
The media outlet report that Stuart will officially be unveiled as the Raiders’ coach at some point on Thursday morning, with the decision reportedly “very much based on personal issues and care for his special-needs daughter.”
Stuart only joined the Eels at the start of the 2013 season and was widely viewed as the man most likely to turn around the tumultuous organisation.
However, under his leadership, Parramatta registered just five wins all year, with Stuart clearly showing signs pressure throughout the latter part of the season.
Former Cowboys coach Neil Henry is expected to become the Eels’ coach in 2014.
Having sensationally dumped coach David Furner last month, Canberra were obviously in need of a new head coach in 2014 and have seemingly found their ideal man in Stuart — a former player and legend at the club.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Stuart played over 200 career games and won three premierships for the Raiders for the club, something that they will no doubt be hoping he can do again once he takes over in the new year.
The Raiders will become the fourth NRL club that Stuart will have managed after spending time at the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla and Parramatta.
nopuritan
Guest
i can't wait till i hear Ricky next utter the word "Loyalty"! without doubt Stuart is seriously over-rated. but wtf is wrong at Parra? the ultimate under performers! i swear they have had at least 15 years of mediocrity. The playing roster is usually competitive, but the coaches can't stay there and the administration seems to have Renouf like evasiveness when it comes to criticism. Stuart's a tool and good riddance for the Parra supporters. But, maybe it's time those fully paid up members start turning their gaze inwards when seeking impediments to on field success.
Short Hand
Guest
How did Canberra know that he had a get out clause when his Channel 9 friends would lead you to believe that Canberra did all the chasing and did it hard and Ricky has done no wrong!. As far as they should have known he had a 3 year deal so why would they chase him 3/4's of the way through his first year of his contract and so quickly sack the current coach. Hope?..Wishful Thinkin?..or was his manager putting the feelers out?..I think the 3rd option most likley. And we were led to believe Furners sacking was all because of player power....yeah right!. Now McIntyre resigns, sounds like him, part of the Canberra Board and Fordham went solo on the Sticky deal.
Zedman
Guest
Should a club be allowed to make offers that require a coach or player to terminate a contract early? Makes the game look unprofessional and they are treating the supporters, the lifeblood of the game like idiots. Stuart has to win a lot of games next year to be accepted in Canberra.
Freddy
Guest
Best for Parramatta.If Sticky does not want to be there best to let him go.Save your money for someone who wants to be there and is willing to do the hard yards.Neil Henry and the Parramatta Eels will now have the chance to prove themselves.Hope the young lad will more smiles soon.
Simon Templar
Guest
No wonder I love reading the Roar - you don't miss - you all know the game and put the crap detector over the predictable commentary found in the News Limited and other media.If memory serves me correctly Ricky Stuart has coached Cronulla to three wooden spoons in three years after they were in the play offs before he took over and now Parramatta. This years State of Origin side showed more evidence of being coached in the first five minutes of Game 1 than did the side for all the games coached by RS. I rate him the worst coach in the NRL just ahead of Stephen Price who can always find something positive about a lack lustre Dragons performance. The Canberra selection committee need a few of the Roar correspondents on their committee to pick the best coach for the Raiders. Anyway good luck to Parra fans who can look forward to much better results in the seasons ahead. Any coach who tells the majority of players they are not wanted in 2014 early in the season can hardly expect them to "bleed" for him
FlameThrower
Guest
There can be NO justification for Stuart to leave the Eels for reasons of the needs of his Special Needs Daughter. Surely there are more facilities available in the Sydney Metro Area than there is in Canberra. Ricky will find also that the Square Kilometre Area of Canberra is no smaller than that of Sydney these days, so that is no excuse. As the old saying goes, "If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen." Seems that Ricky got too hot in the kitchen and gave up. No loss to Parramatta but I bet every player in Canberra is searching their contracts for a way out.
GD
Guest
This bloke is the biggest con since Santa Claus, but not nearly as jolly. Anyone silly enough to take him on deserves everything they get. Poor, long-suffering Raiders fans, I feel for you. Carney, Dugan, Ferguson and now Stuart?
mushi
Guest
Is your photo of a little canberra supporter upon hearing the news?
CowsMegaFan
Guest
Ha will be funny when raiders win the wooden spoon next year that Rickys won four wooden spoons with four different clubs!
Lewis
Guest
I think it's so ironic how Ricky Stuart publicly criticised Papalli for backflipping on his decision to join the Eels
Adam
Roar Guru
best Raiders signing since Bill Tupou
up in the north
Guest
As a former resident of the Hills district, and with still a passing interest in them, I've got to say "Ricky what a dog act"
Short Hand
Guest
Smells like a captain deserting a sinking ship with the crew unable to jump. Poor form or.... OK if family issues are the real reason and they are valid ones would he have gone 3/4's of the way through his first year if Parra were in the 8. It is obvious this deal was stitched up before they came out of the blue and sacked Furner in 2 days and shocked everyone when still in contention for the 8. As Ricky said in the press conferences no one has approached me..I have not spoken to anyone from Canberra...Read between the lines..yes Rick but you have John Fordham to do the deal.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Well at least he left Parra in much better shape than when he joined them. Right?
Mim
Guest
Are the odds at the TAB out for the 2014 Wooden Spooners yet???........Wanna put my money on the Raiders before the dividends reduce.
Rob G.
Guest
Why anyone would want Ricky is beyond me. He won a premiership in his first year with a team who already had the roster. Since then he turned the sharks into a mess, parra into an even bigger mess, helped nsw to multiple origin losses and coaches one of the great Australian teams to a World Cup loss. My prediction, raiders to be bottom 3 next year.
The eye
Guest
Half the battle will be won by Henry if he can get Jarryd on board..if I was a Raiders player I'd be up on the roof and birding every camera I see.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
For now, looks like he jumped. Will know more in morning.
bjt
We all knew this was going to happen, it was only the matter of when. Not going to the raiders, but walking away from Parramatta when it got too tough. And what will happen next? We'll see an article in one of Sydney's rubbish rags how it is all the boards, the players, the fans, the NRL, the grounds keeper's fault they lost 19 and forced him to leave. Everything other than taking any blame for himself. The truth is Parramatta got exactly what they deserved for installing a failure. A fate that will now be repeated at the Raiders.
barfly
Guest
Well said GURU.................................