For those of you that missed it, late last night Ricky Stuart announced that he had quit as Parramatta Eels coach effective immediately to coach the Canberra Raiders.
This decision ended weeks of speculation where it was unknown to most Parramatta supporters as to whether he would be going or staying.
As a fan, I strongly believe it is our job to support out team and our coach irrespective of who they are.
Prior to Ricky coming to Parramatta I had my doubts about his ability to coach a team like mine.
At a level where players have the ability but need a coach to motivate them and take them to the next level, I feel Ricky is excellent. State of Origin is a good example.
However, I was yet to see any example of Ricky being able to coach a group of players and develop their playing ability, which is something Parramatta desperately needed.
I gave Ricky the benefit of the doubt and welcomed him to my club.
I feel hung out to dry after last night’s decision.
Ricky has made decisions this year in regard to recruitment – very harsh decisions which has seen around 12 Eels being let go for next season, including our co-captain Reni Maitua.
To decide to make those changes and then choose not to be around to see the effect of those changes and work with the squad he has chosen for next year is extremely disappointing.
In order to leave, Ricky had to take advantage of a ‘get-out’ clause in his contract. It boggles my mind as to why when negotiations were taking place, this clause was put into Ricky’s contract.
After having lost Daniel Anderson and Stephen Kearney in recent seasons, what the Eels needed this year and need even more now is stability.
By allowing Ricky to walk away the club failed to protect what it needed from a new coach the most – stability.
While utilising the ‘get-out’ clause is completely legitimate, the question of enforceability of contracts again raises its head.
This season has once again illustrated that, amongst other things, players do not really understand their obligations under a contract.
We need to grow our athletes and the people involved in our game so that they are commercially aware individuals and understand their obligations under contracts.
Another thing that makes me very disappointed about the decision is the lying. Ricky has stated many times over recent weeks that he had not spoken to the Raiders.
I knew this was a lie and so did everyone else.
He played the Parramatta fans for fools and by refusing to make a comment on the situation or refusing to say emphatically that he was not leaving, it made it even clearer that he was at least considering deserting the team.
Instead of lying, I wish Ricky had taken responsibility earlier and been honest with the club and the fans.
The thing that makes me most upset however, is that Ricky Stuart has made my club a laughing-stock.
He is not the only contributing factor – our board has been unstable and our performances woeful, but to see him treat the club this was is so upsetting.
I am a proud Parramatta fan and to see our club reduced to the laughing stock of the league just hurts.
I have no idea who the new coach will be – but the number one priority needs to be stability and someone who will see out their contract.
However with Parramatta’s retention policy, would you want to come coach at the club? Whoever our next coach is had better have nerves of steel – they are going to need it.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Dave I am tremendously frustrated with the board at the moment - but we have been dysfunctional at that level for a long time and I feel like thats something Ricky knew when he arrived at the Club. I am pleased with the processes he started to put in place but am disappointed that he did not have the stick-a-bility to see them through.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
I hear your comments sheek and I agree with you. I didn't really believe in Ricky as a coach either, but he was Parramatta's coach and that was enough of a reason for me to support him. I don't buy the excuse of Parramatta's board being dysfunctional. Parramatta's board has been dysfunctional for ages now - Ricky knew it when he came to the club and nothing has changed tbh. I feel that's just a convenient excuse Ricky is using for leaving the club. But completely agree Parramatta need to sort their management issues out.
FlameThrower
Guest
Rookie, I understand how you feel and I support everything you say. The only thing I have doubts about is your statement that Parramatta have become a laughing stock with the walkout by Ricky. I do not wish to hit you below the belt mate but, Parramatta became a laughing stock when they signed Stuart. The World knows he cannot coach Rugby League. My Commiserations.
matt h
Guest
Have you looked at the Broncos roster recently? There are no superstars. How much do you think our spine is being paid? Only Hodges and Thaiday and maybe Gillett would be on good coin. Brisbane lost Falou and Inglis, Teo and Petero and replaced them with Scott Prince (who is retiring anyway). They've also lost Wallace and Norman I'm pretty sure there is room there. And if there isn't then Brisbane are definitely paying overs. The days of Brisbane paying unders because of outsdie sponsorship deals and the the chance to win a premiership under Wayne Bennett are long gone.
barfly
Guest
Parramatta, Super didn't blame RS for the spoon there dirty because he walked out..........Mate ur f far away and drfting and waffling from the issue..............
Jesse
Guest
Ricky Stuart is the Josh McDaniels of the NRL. Just like Josh at the Denver Broncos he has driven out or cut all the good talent then done a runner. Ricky is apart of the Good Old Boys club in the NRL and has made a career coaching on the coattails of his mates and playing days.
Glenn Innes
Guest
oikee Souths and Easts pulled nearly 60k the other night, I believe it was a record for a regular season game in a league that has been around for over a century - not sure what your definition of a "power club" is?
GW
Roar Pro
If Milford stays, the Raiders are certainties to make the 8. We were in 7th place when the wheels fell off due to the idiot's sellfishness (and thanks to the NRL for not dealing with the other idiot more strongly). We had no chance of winning this year, with the worst spine of all time allowed to play for week after week (Buttriss, McCrone and Robinson). Macca is a really good player, but he needs to be playing in a position where he doesn't have to think too quickly, and never, ever kick. Robbo's commitment to tackling is similar to Sticky's commitment to Parra in 2014 & 2015. The most important positions on the field, and we had guys who just weren't up to it, and never will be.
Meesta Cool
Guest
You MUST blame the coach for the inept defence that the Eels have displayed this year, Defence doesn't need fancy skills or much deviation from standard coaching techniques, it need belief in the systems and game plans. I saw neither of these things at the Eels this year. In fact once behind on the scoreboard the whole team gave in!.. and some people say that this isn't partly bad coaching, ASK meesta Bellamy what he thinks!,,,, then stand back, coz he gonna explode!!.. Ooops I forgot to mention, Didn't Ricky openly say that 'Noddy' wasn't a good half back, that alone should have rung lotsa bells on his ability to read a player!.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's true, Fitzgerald kept that place together. The fact that it fell apart so quick after he left tells us he wasn't thinking much about its future.
soapit
Guest
at this point i think they'd prefer to have never have even seen the front of him and not had a year of their time wasted as they try and rebuild the club.
Jack Daniels
Roar Pro
Yeah what a nob, doesn't re sign half a dozen players because they're not part of his future plans and then leaves the club. Most overrated coach in the game IMO
Doggies Bro
Guest
Nope to the dogs sorry. Wants to play for des again
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
What odds are bet makers giving for the raiders to win the wooden spoon next year? Might be worth a plunge!
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
That's true, and Burt probably wouldn't have played first grade this year. But Hindmarsh for sure would have. He would be the best back rower at Parramatta if he was still playing. Regardless, both Burt and Hindmarsh bring plenty of experience, composure and leadership to the table - 3 things that Parra have sorely lacked this year.
Doggies Bro
Guest
It was Steve kearney leaving that gave him the right to get he wanted to play for Ricky but looks like he will be filling benny shoes at the dogs
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Nicely put and an insightful analysis. I'm not sure about Ricky either, but the changing of CEO's and Board's every six months goes a long way to explaining why the club is where it is. You need strong commercial management to negotiate contracts for a club. They need to plan ahead and manage the salary cap so they can put good players into the key positions and build depth. Whether that has happened at the Eels is a matter of opinion, but you would be hard pressed to find too many people disagreeing with your assessment that there are only a handful of quality players on their roster. Maybe Ricky's leaving gives the Eels the chance to clear the decks so the new coach isn't associated with the difficult process of mid-season sackings. They can come on board with a clean slate with most of the dirty work done. This embarrassing situation may also finally convince the warring factions to stop fighting and work together for the benefit of the club. How good does the Smith/Fitzgerald ticket look now? Perversely, I think that this situation may also benefit Canberra.The Raiders clearly have a massive cultural problem at their club. Star player after star player goes off the rails. One player (Carney) is unfortunate, two players (Dugan)is careless, three players (Ferguson) is downright incompetent and a searing indictment of the club's management. As discussed above, Ricky is intense and competitive and I'm confident won't put up with the crap that has been allowed to go on at Canberra. Right now, his intensity may really benefit the club, although I'm not sure its a good deal for Ricky.The Raiders are also a poorly run club and appear to be having a Board meltdown.
Johnno
Guest
Hindmarsh and burt had really slowed down anyway. They were lucky to be in 1st grade even in there last year.
Ryan
Guest
Ricky Stuart = dog.........what a lowlife dog act. Parra are better off without him and Canberra will get the spoon next year. He's right up there with Brian Smith in my eyes, all BS and no commitment, no wonder we haven't won Origin. Overrated as a player and much more overrated as a coach.
GW
Roar Pro
We haven't "won" anything for a while.