One question. Barely two minutes.
That’s all coach Ricky Stuart could tolerate before abruptly walking out of a press conference after Canberra were overpowered 30-10 by Melbourne in their NRL preliminary final.
The signs were ominous that the passionate mentor might be preparing for a vintage Stuart post-match performance after the Raiders’ quest to end their 26-year title drought was crushed by a dominant Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Eyebrows were raised when Stuart didn’t make himself available to media until almost an hour after the loss that snapped Canberra’s five-game winning run and ended their brave quest to book back-to-back grand finals.
Yet there was no indication that the sometimes volatile Stuart had been simmering when he finally emerged post-match.
He appeared composed when he answered the opening question, showering Melbourne with praise for the win set up by a point-a-minute 24-0 first half blitz.
Which made his sudden exit while reporters attempted a follow up query all the more surprising.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
There was plenty to discuss after Canberra’s season ended.
Could Stuart expand on the Raiders’ gutsy effort to overcome a heavy injury toll and a nightmare travel regimen to become the first fifth-placed team under the new finals format to have made a preliminary final?
The Raiders had made a grand final qualifier after spending almost 50 hours in transit since the competition’s resumption in May – close to double the time taken by the next NRL team – due to overnight hotel stays being banned under COVID protocols.
And what were his departing words for English import John Bateman, who is bound for Super League club Wigan in 2021 after two influential seasons at Canberra?
Raiders fans will have to wait after Stuart’s only post-match insights were that he was “very proud” of his side and that they didn’t start their preliminary final well.
“We were passive in defence (in first 25 minutes)… it was not us,” Stuart said.
“I can handle the loss… but I’m just really disappointed we did not have one of our better games.”
Stuart even dipped his hat to Melbourne as he expanded on the opening question.
“To our character and the resilience in the team, we hung around and tried to turn it around but Melbourne just wouldn’t let us and it made it a tough night,” he said.
“I’m very proud of where we got to but I’m disappointed in not going one step further.
“You can’t take it for granted getting to this position in a season because you fight so hard to get here and put so much work to get to this stage of the season. For us to let ourselves down like that in the first 25 minutes is the disappointing part.”
He added: “I genuinely wish (Storm coach) Craig (Bellamy), (captain) Cameron (Smith) and the team all the best for next week.”
And with that he was gone.
As a reporter tried to ask a follow-up, Stuart simply said “cheers” as he stormed out.
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Tough for Ricky...disappointing way to get beaten after all their hard work getting to the semi...he is a great coach. Hopefully they will be better next year.. I am a Storm fan..
Nat
Roar Rookie
Why it all went wrong? I would have thought he said that pre-game with the travel scenario. Other than that, as Ricky did say, they got too far away early and didn't let the Raiders back in. Isn't anything else just an excuse?
Big Daddy
Guest
Tom, the problem with Ricky he wears his heart on his sleeve and bleeds Canberra. Not that that it is a bad thing but the NRL expect everyone including players and coach' s to toe the line to the extreme limit. Gone are the days when you could speak your mind on an issue. Not that he's been hard done by in this situation but there's times when you don't want to talk about these hard losses . If you don't talk about it you are labelled " I'm a robot". I like it when coach' s show a bit of passion . It shows they care.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Kent is a hack who couldn’t make it as a writer on any other subject with any other media group.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I’ve never been a Ricky Stuart fan.. always found him a bit surly and one eyed, however anyone thinking that there was anything else he could’ve added to this conference is kidding themselves. He was polite, succinct and accurate in his assessment. The NRL needs to be reminded that the media is there to get stories of interest on the game not create them out of confected controversy
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Just watched it for the first time and have to agree. Ricky said all that needed to be said about being disappointed in not putting in a performance that he knew the team was capable of - and congratulated the Storm, Bellamy and Smith for how they played and wished them well for the GF. But as a Raiders supporter I would have liked to have heard his take and why it all went wrong. There was no dummy spit or anger at the refs. Plus the team had to catch a flight back to Canberra that night.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I agree, BD. Why should they have to be subjected to this straight after a match and season like that? He said what he should say, congratulated his opponent and thanked his team. Leave any detailed questions till later.
Trevor Whitton
Roar Rookie
That's amazing!! I was just about to post exactly the same comment (just about word for word). The guy makes me furious - he clearly has an agenda and has basically taken away NRL 360 as a viewing option for me.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Bateman? For me, never got to the level(s) that he did last year, yes Cotric is leaving and was good but I'm sure that he gave everyone the appropriate farewells and wraps, also, I’m sure that he was pretty upset and very disappointed with his team and that his team didn’t get the appropriate treatment that a team deserves coming into a preliminary final.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Yes, true. I forgot about that. That puts a bit more seasoning on the issue.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He got a $10k suspended good behavior bond 3 weeks ago for throwing the water bottle, he can kiss that good bye.
Nat
Roar Rookie
He gave them the sound bite, he just made them wait. Ricky's always been about Ricky and his little power plays. Abdo may just put a shot across the bow with a suspended sentence to maintain the status quo.
Big Daddy
Guest
Put yourself in Ricky's shoes. It's a been a long hard season with COVID, you've just been hammered and you have to front up to some of these journos who have never laced a boot on asking smart arse questions on whose fault it is. I'd probably check out pretty quickly. But the NRL will add to his misery by fining him some ridiculous amount because he hasn't satisfied their ridiculous rules. Good on him.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If nothing happens you set a precedent for others to follow. I like Ricky, $10k has never stopped him before. Robbo, Arthur, Morris and the Knights coach had to take it but, lets congratulate Ricky for being a 10 year old.
JGK
Roar Guru
Might have been nice to hear him say some nice things about Bateman and Cotric.
Paul
Roar Guru
Hopefully nothing.
Don
Roar Rookie
I wonder if Paul Kent will slam his mate Stuart for his scant regard to the side’s obligations to front up and answer questions in the same way hammers Melbourne whenever they won’t speak in depth?
Nat
Roar Rookie
Yep. They can get fined for not doing them. Not sure what will happen with Ricky.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Press conferences have not always been televised. Are they part of the rights the channel pays for?
Big Daddy
Guest
:thumbup: Good on Ricky. Can't agree more. On the opposite side of the coin were forced to put up with Annesley and his weekly smoke and mirrors BS.