Ricky Stuart has apologised for calling Penrith five eighth Jaeman Salmon a ‘weak-gutted dog’ and revealed there was history between his son and Salmon stretching back to 2010.
After Salmon’s alleged kick on Raiders hooker Tom Starling on Saturday night, Stuart fumed: “I know that kid well. He was a weak-gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He’s a weak-gutted dog person now.”
Salmon was penalised for a kick to the nether regions of Starling, though replays were inconclusive regarding how deliberate the act was. Referee Grant Atkins put the incident on report.
“I can’t imagine Jaeman would have deliberately done that,” said Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. “I didn’t even see it. I don’t think I need to respond to those comments”
“I regret saying what I did on that platform after the game,” Stuart said in a statement on Sunday. “I was speaking as a father and not as a football coach.
“My reaction was to a family situation that I thought I had dealt with, clearly I haven’t. I allowed my emotions to get the better of me and for that I am very sorry.
“There is a history between Jaeman Salmon and my family that I will not go into. I should not have brought it up after the game, but it just got the better of me.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
“I am truly sorry that I have caused my family and the game unwarranted attention.”
The SMH reported the Panthers were looking at their legal avenues on behalf of Salmon, who was said to be “rattled” by Stuart’s comments.
The NRL Integrity unit is investigating.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed that the NRL Integrity Unit was looking into the comments. “It’s a disappointing situation,” Abdo told the Herald. “This happened last night and everyone deserves due process. We will get all the facts before making a decision.”
The Salmon family issued a statement to the media on Sunday calling on the NRL to sanction Stuart.
“We were disappointed by the comments of Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart after what was a fantastic game of football for the Panthers and our son, Jaeman. We were surprised by Ricky’s claim that he knows Jaeman personally as they have had no contact since Jae was 12 years old.
“We are calling on the NRL to take action as we believe Jaeman has been wronged in this situation. We will follow the correct procedures and let the NRL complete a thorough investigation.”
In the game, Penrith put a massive dent in Canberra’s finals hopes with a hard-fought 26-6 victory at GIO Stadium, all but confirming their Minor Premiership in the process.
The Raiders needed to win to keep pace with the Sydney Roosters in the fight for 8th place, but were unable to break down a resolute Penrith rearguard and will now need results elsewhere to go their way to stand a chance of making the finals.
With four games to play and a lead of six points over the Cowboys, the top spot on the ladder is nearly mathematically certain for Cleary’s men.
It was a depleted Penrith side, with Nathan Cleary suspended and Jarome Luai and Viliame Kikau injured, but their fundamentals of defensive organisation and strong running from the back went nowhere.
Neither did Edwards, who was best on ground in his 100th NRL game. His ball-running and ability to nullify attacking kicks were as good as ever, but this fixture was defined by his toughness. Time and again, Edwards was wiped out by tackling – some legal, some not – and simply got up and carried on.
The new halves pairing of Sean O’Sullivan and Salmon made the most of their opportunities when they came, and leaned heavily on experienced heads like Api Koroisau and Isaah Yeo, who lead from the front and moved the side around.
Canberra can only have themselves to blame. They had over 40 tackles in the opposition 20m zone and managed to cross just once. Jack Wighton, around whom the attack always revolves, was marshalled tightly throughout and struggled to get going.
The teams traded early tries that owed as much to poor defence as good attack. Josh Papali’i got over the top on a crashover that Fisher-Harris might want back, but within three minutes, Koroisau snuck through soft tackling on the Raiders line.
The handling then departed both sides, with a run of errors that belied the quality on display. Stephen Crichton edged Penrith further in front with a penalty goal, before O’Sullivan slipped a kick through for the centre to ground.
The game hadn’t quite come alive, but was sparked into life on the half-hour mark. Tapine, so influential for Canberra, came away from an innocuous-looking tackle holding his ribs.
He was replaced by Ryan Sutton, who lasted just one play after he was caught high by Fisher-Harris. The English prop left with a concussion, his Kiwi counterpart got ten minutes.
On his return, he was replaced in the bin by Nick Cotric, who hit Edwards high. The fullback bounced up, dusted himself off and within five minutes, was celebrating after adding the final tough to a sweeping long range move to extend the lead.
The Panthers were then forced into a long period of defence, but Canberra were unable to trouble them at all. It was hardly a banner night for the Raiders, who consistently failed to get good ball to Wighton when they needed their star man to make his impact.
It was inevitable that, having turned Canberra away so many time, Penrith would score the next time they went up the field. They dutifully did, with Salmon able to spot a gap in the line and get himself over for what would prove to be the knockout blow.
Richard POWELL
Roar Rookie
Doesn't have to be a lie. There are 3 necessary elements to a valid cause of action for defamation: Information was communicated by the defendant to a third person; The information identifies the plaintiff; and. The information had defamatory imputations about the plaintiff.
hicksi
Guest
I think Salmon may have benefited from Ricky's spray. A kick to the nads, followed by a sprig-scrape down the player's face. Many players would've had a week off after kicking out like that, not a $1,000 fine. NRL keeps talking about "duty of care" in relation to defenders not inflicting hurt on attackers. WELL, the opposite is also true, and kicking in the nads (whether intentional or not) is, as Ricky said "NOT ON"
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
What the!
Guest
Maybe he’ll practice it on Mitchell? Then it would be ‘ The Nutcracker Sweeeeet ‘. :laughing:
Steely Stan
Guest
A song for Ricky! Ricky don’t abuse no other , as you don’t want to call your lawyer yeah. Just write your thoughts in a letter to yourself. Ricky don’t abuse no other , as it’s the only job you’ll want. And you might need some dope to just feel better, when you get home. ….. I tell myself you should be fired , as you can’t even control your mind. Then you’ll never have a change of heart. ….. Ricky don’t abuse no other, Ricky don’t abuse no other, Ricky don’t abuse no other….. Sorry Steely Dan! :stoked:
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Well he’s got the green shirt for it and he’d have to change his name to Herbie
matth
Roar Guru
I was thinking the Hulk. Gets angry rips off the shirt and goes bananas.
matth
Roar Guru
His family might not want to go down that road, as it will just put the spotlight on the kid even more. I agree that he would almost certainly win any action.
What the!
Guest
Salmon couldn’t receive a bigger penalty. As the NRL judiciary set a precedent last season with Latrell Mitchell. Twice kicking players in games. First time, no penalty at all. Second time , breaking Brimson’s jaw , For a one week suspension. As it’s Salmon’s first kicking out. He has to get a zero suspension.
Chris
Guest
Load of old crap. You can’t slander someone & have them have to pay for ‘your words’ in the future. Ricky , it’s time for you to pay the piper.
Justin
Guest
Absolutely not fair. Time for the lawyers at the end of the season. Slander & the mental anguish that these words will continue to have on Salmon & his family. Salmon would win & he has the video as proof. Not even any apology to Salmon. Time to really pay for the words you choose to use Ricky.
Me
Guest
Cooper Cronk picked it. It is the power imbalance here that is the real problem here. Stuart abused his power to execute revenge for a personal dispute that will be a life (not just career) defining for Salmon and his family. This tag stays for life. Salmon will be sledged by some players and the fans definitely will. He can't escape to Superleague as its worldwide news. His parents are involved so they cop it too. If he has kids they too will cop it thanks to the internet being around forever. Sure Salmon's actions on the day were grubby and I believe he should have recieved a bigger penalty. But then again how many players have committed grubby episodes but the game moves on? I also believe Stuart had a right to call it out at the press conference but in a professional way. He had no right to weaponise his position of power as an act of revenge on a family that will last for many years. A two week suspension is a weak slap on the wrist penalty. For Ricky it ends in two weeks then business as usual, its over. How is it fair to the Salmon family? unwarrented words have JS's workplace harder to handle. Maybe the punishment should fit the crime? Stuart should be deregistered for at least 5 years. Maybe the Stuart might get a feel for the long term anguish his careless words have caused. Cronk was right. the power imbalance is setup for Stuart to get away with this unscathed yet the other party pays for years. Not fair is it?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Well my son filled up the fuel tank of my lawn mower with dirt when he was about 4 - to be honest all I could do was laugh. Don't think Ricky will be laughing today. Will be interesting to see how the NRL react.
JGK
Roar Guru
I still haven’t forgiven my son for scratching my car with his bike when he was 12.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Lashing out in tackles with the feet is terrible and should be stamped out by the NRL. It happens in most matches these days. But after the penalty was given against Salmon, Starling was straight up and featuring in the next play. He wasn't hurt too bad. But it obviously triggered Ricky !
Westie
Guest
Ricky should make a copy of this article & carry it around with him. ‘It’s the Ricky excuse’ & why it’s not really my fault at all!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Lets leave Ricky alone and give him some slack, the bloke must be very frustrated with his Raiders side that even I as a neutral and really sort of a fan, 9 out of 10 times when I see them play, I just shake my head and wonder what these blokes are doing or should they be in the NRL? Never mind what their fans feel like, who must be pulling their hair out :laughing: The media very well knows how Ricky is post games and especially after a loss, btw, love to have the money he's blown on fines post games over the years! IMO Ricky should not have said what he did but with him its all or nothing (especially post game and after a loss) as his track record shows all that and its how Ricky operates, lets leave this alone as Ricky has apologized and said it was a brain snap that should never have been brought up!
Wayne Turner
Guest
Anthony Griffin & Justin Holbrook would like to thank Ricky Stuart,for overshadowing how bad their teams are going.
Chris
Guest
Just wondered if Starling is that cat that was talked about? Looking to make the most of the vicious strikes from Salmon’s boot.
Justin
Guest
He’ll probably find someone in the St.George team to fire a tirade at. That took his sons pre school toys.