The NRL’s $20,000 fine against Ricky Stuart for walking out of a press conference 20 seconds after it began is nothing short of a witch hunt.
If Stuart speaks his mind and tells it how it is he’s fined, if he refrains from answering questions or withdraws himself from a media conference he’s fined.
If it’s good enough for the coach and captain to front the media straight after a match when their emotions are still raw, and possibly be ambushed with inflammatory questions by the media, then why shouldn’t the referee and touch judges be held accountable for their decisions during a match and have to front up to a press conference as well?
The NRL must have very short memories because Wayne Bennett escaped scrutiny over the years with his one-word answers and refusal to attend more than one press conference, instead sending out his assistant coach. So where’s the consistency?
The only way Ricky Stuart can protect himself is to go to press conferences armed with scripted responses, thereby giving answers that can’t be construed as being critical or defamatory towards referees.
The NRL are pulling the strings and the coaches are like puppets at press conferences, so until that changes and coaches are given more freedom to speak their mind without having to suppress themselves for fear of being fined, the frosty relationship between the NRL and its coaches will only continue.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Well said and spot on GTW. People don't realise what it takes to be a coach in the NRL (being constantly under the pump to win) and then to have the troubles follow on when you leave the NRL arena at home.
Brett
Guest
Bennett is a grumpy man, but he actually answers the questions and doesn't blame the refs for his teams losses. Whereas, Stuart never accepts responsibility and always blames the refs for his teams losses, whichever team he is coaching. I'm glad he was fined. I feel sorry for the Raiders.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I support Ricky as being a coach in this NRL comp must be the most frustrating and annoying thing on this planet. The refs and administrators are a law all to themselves and bend the rules to suit themselves. Full of inconsistencies and aggravations to clubs and fans.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The only way Ricky Stuart can escape these setups and fines (from now on) is to do a Wayne Bennett and send his assistant coach. Bennett seems to be in his own little world and he is the worst look of anybody in the NRL (he should be fined just for his attitude) , never ever smiles, always grumpy and he looks like he is going to bite your head off. The NRL's Smith and Greenberg are full of inconsistencies full of themselves and the referees well they just live in a world of their own. Don't expect anything to change in 'referees heaven' because it will only change when they feel like it and when they can put more fines and rules on the card that they can hide behind.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Dunno whether it was warranted or not , but I'm more concerned about whether it did his team any good. You've got your Bellamy, Hasler and Toovies who've complained about refereeing but they always seem to use it harden the teams resolve and bring the playing group closer, Ricky on the other hand seems to use it to gloss over his teams failings and continue as they were
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
He coached at Cronulla and whined rarely the players fault ,overwhelmingly the refs' fault.The guy's DNA is programmed to whinge.His inadequacies at times are deflected brilliantly.Proof was last weekend in his team's swamping of the Knights,big smile on his face no complimenting the refs.
Jacktheeagle
Guest
I get serial whiners are a pain, but there needs to be more balance, passion should always have a place in our game.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
But the alternative is just a stream of (often spurious) claims of "we wuz robbed". Those of us old enough to remember the pre-gag days recall Jack Gibson - the premier whiner - every single week whinging and crying about all and everything whilst his team racked up premiership after premiership.
Jacktheeagle
Guest
I agree in part with this article is it a witch hunt on Ricky Stuart, short answer no, in my opinion. On the other hand Gazbo raises a good debate about how the NRL want scripted interviews. The new rules are ridiculous I do understand that the coaches are not allowed to voice honest opinions. The passion is slowly being sucked from the game for a more corporate, business style. I understand coaches are paid big money and the media obligations comes with the gig every coach has that obligation, but the NRL might as well ask the post match questions cause they only want, we were out played, better team on the day garage. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION!
GTW
Guest
Next story please. It's last weeks news. The Raiders got a few 50/50's on the weekend, I don't know where these nice decisions come from, but it was only against the Knights, rather than a team in top form. I only say those words as it's usually - it's only the Raiders etc etc, so who cares if they get a few wrong decisions? Although Ricky earns a lot of dough, and he's the most public face of the Raiders, and hence is a public figure, he's still the father of an autistic child, as I am, and I assure you that my behavior is rather erratic at times. Be a little understanding if you can.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Ricky is famous for diverting attention away from his team's poor performance and onto the refs. However I think what he did was warranted. He did what every other coach has wanted to do but hasn't had the balls too. The NRL gag was designed to stop coaches doing what Ricky does so often, which is good in theory, but they are too heavy handed in enforcing it.
Emcie
Roar Guru
I don't understand what he was hoping to accomplish. Has complaining about the refs ever benefited one of his teams before? Has getting on the wrong side the NRL management solved anything? If anything he seems to just be trying to drum up support in the media, but even that would seem more about him than his team. I just don't see anything but short term "solutions" from him
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Ricky new exactly what he was doing. He knew he was going to get a fine, but he was making a statement on the NRL gag rules around coaches commenting on referee decisions.
Brett
Guest
It's hard to sympathize with a coach who blames the refs for losses. Ricky has been doing it throughout his whole coaching career, and I'm sure he has many more fines ahead of him.
turbodewd
Guest
Mate, all Ricky has to do is front a media scrum and answer a few questions. How hard is it? Seriously! One rule is to not go overboard in attacking the refs - easily followed. Ricky shows that he has poor self control, i.e maybe he has a malformed pre-frontal cortex in the brain. This is the part of the brain that governs self control. Sorry mate, I have no sympathy for a person (an adult!) who is incapable of basic self control. Basic.