Ricky Stuart

Coaching Career

Vital Statistics

Nickname(s)
Sticky
Born
Saturday, 7th January, 1967
Current Age
57 years and 81 days
Place Of Birth
Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Awards & Accolades

Clive Churchill Medal
1990
Dally M Halfback Of The Year
1990, 1993
Dally M Player Of The Year
1993
Rothmans Medal
1993
Dally M Coach Of The Year
2016
National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2018
NSWRL Hall Of Fame
2022

Biography

Remarkably gifted halfback with arguably the best kicking game in the code in the 1990s, Stuart switched to League from the Queanbeyan Whites RU club after representing the Wallabies on their tour of Argentina in 1987 (no Tests). After a slow start, Stuart came into his own as the major tactician in the Raiders' three consecutive grand final appearances (1989-91). His organisational ability, torpedo passes and pinpoint kicking game contributed to the club's premiership success in 1989-90. First runner-up in Dally M Player of the Year voting, Stuart's performance in the 1990 grand final against Penrith not only earned him the Clive Churchill Medal but secured a place on the Kangaroo tour. His form in the early matches saw him selected as five-eighth in the First Test at Wembley, but he regained the halfback position in the Second Test following Australia's shock loss. Stuart turned from villain to hero in the vital match when he took off like a startled rabbit on a 70m run resulting in the winning try to Mal Meninga. (Earlier, he had thrown an intercept pass that led to an unconverted try that tied the match.) Despite battling injuries, he played in all remaining Tests on tour. The 1991 grand final did not see him at his best (due to a groin tear) and he could not reproduce his great kicking game against the Panthers. Stuart played an important role in NSW's Origin success in 1992, but with Allan Langer in brilliant form he was left out of the Test sides. Stuart was selected in the World Cup squad at the end of 1992 and although he did not play in the final, Canberra's fortunes in 1993 rested very much in his hands. In the second last match of the season (ironically, the record-breaking 68-0 thrashing of P’matta), Stuart broke his leg and Canberra lacked the necessary organisation to make an impact in the semi-finals. The champion halfback won the covetted Gold Dally M - Rothmans Medal double that year, highlighting his value in the side. The year 1994 saw Stuart back to his very best, orchestrating NSW's third consecutive State of Origin success and spearheading Canberra's grand final victory. His good form at first was not enough to oust arch-rival Allan Langer from Australia's Test side against France, but following the First Test loss on the Kangaroo Tour, Stuart reclaimed his crown at the scrumbase. Stuart's role in Australia's subsequent Ashes win and the record 74-0 thrashing of France should have left no doubt as to who was the reigning champion halfback in the world. Prior to the start of the 1995 season he was afforded the honour of being named Canberra captain, but was then used as a pawn in the ARL's battle with Super League (his signing was symbolically crucial to the momentum of the breakaway movement). Staying with the Raiders, his rep career stalled because of the Super League war and a succession of injuries (not least of which was a life-threatening virus that sidelined him in the early part of 1998). Given the lengths Canberra went to retain its star players, it was strangely ironic that club Chief Executive Kevin Neil allowed Stuart and clubmate Bradley Clyde to leave the club at the end of 1998 to play with the Bulldogs. A recurring knee injury ended Stuart’s career in 2000, a less than fitting end to one of the most accomplished halves of the modern game. After taking the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg team to a grand final win in 2001, he was appointed Roosters first grade coach for 2002.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Coaching Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   Games W L D Win %  
NRL 496 250 243 3 50.40% List
Anzac Cup 5 2 3 0 40.00% List
NRL Finals 24 15 9 0 62.50% List
World Club Challenge 1 1 0 0 100.00% List
City vs Country 1 1 0 0 100.00% List
State of Origin 9 4 5 0 44.44% List
Anzac Tests 3 3 0 0 100.00% List
Tri-Nations 5 4 1 0 80.00% List
World Cup 5 4 1 0 80.00% List
NRL Pre-Season 4 1 3 0 25.00% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Australia 2006-08 14 12 2 0 85.71% List

World Cup Matches - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Australia 2006-2008 5 4 1 0 80.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
NSW Country 2004 1 1 0 0 100.00% List
NSW 2005, 2011-12 9 4 5 0 44.44% List
Overall2004-2012 10 5 5 0 50.00% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season Games W L D Win %  
Sydney NRL 2002 28 19 8 1 67.86% List
Sydney NRL 2003 27 19 8 0 70.37% List
Sydney NRL 2004 27 21 6 0 77.78% List
Sydney NRL 2005 24 11 13 0 45.83% List
Sydney NRL 2006 24 8 16 0 33.33% List
Cronulla NRL 2007 24 10 14 0 41.67% List
Cronulla NRL 2008 26 18 8 0 69.23% List
Cronulla NRL 2009 24 5 19 0 20.83% List
Cronulla NRL 2010 17 5 12 0 29.41% List
Parramatta NRL 2013 24 5 19 0 20.83% List
Canberra NRL 2014 24 8 16 0 33.33% List
Canberra NRL 2015 24 10 14 0 41.67% List
Canberra NRL 2016 27 18 8 1 66.67% List
Canberra NRL 2017 24 11 13 0 45.83% List
Canberra NRL 2018 24 10 14 0 41.67% List
Canberra NRL 2019 27 17 10 0 62.96% List
Canberra NRL 2020 23 16 7 0 69.57% List
Canberra NRL 2021 24 10 14 0 41.67% List
Canberra NRL 2022 25 14 11 0 56.00% List
Canberra NRL 2023 25 13 12 0 52.00% List
Canberra NRL 2024 4 2 1 1 50.00% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years Games W L D Win %  
Sydney 2002-06 130 78 51 1 60.00% List
Cronulla 2007-10 91 38 53 0 41.76% List
Parramatta 2013 24 5 19 0 20.83% List
Canberra 2014-24 251 129 120 2 51.39% List
Overall2002-2024 496 250 243 3 50.40% List

Your Say

  • Baljit Pelia (Singh)
    05/03/2017

    Hi Mate
    I have been your fan since your playing days at Can Raider.I have too much to say about you,your achievements, as a player and as a couch. But ........
    You have created so many wonderful moments in your playing and Couching career that we (The whole sport fraternity are proud of).
    Today at 1300small stad your boys have performed an act of bravery,resilience and sportsmanship.Having only 38% of Possession our boys kept the champion team in the doldrums.
    Please hug (All boys) them all when you see them tomorrow and praise their efforts.
    God bless Raiders!!!!!

  • Want to have your say about this player? Add a comment.

Contributions: Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Greg Fiveash, Terry Liberopoulos, Bill Bates, Max Turner, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo

Sources: NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1998, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2001, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1996, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 2000, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1997, NRL Rugby League Yearbook 1999, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1994, ARL Rugby League Yearbook 1995