Ricky Stuart

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.

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 icon.

International
Test Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1990, 1994	9	1	-				1	5	7	2	0	77.78%
Overall	1990-1994	9	1	0				1	5	7	2	0	77.78%
World Cup Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Australia	1990	2	-	-				-	-	2	0	0	100.00%
Overall	1990	2	0	0				0		2	0	0	100.00%
Representative
Australia - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
New South Wales	1990-94	14	3	-				-	12	8	6	0	57.14%
NSW City	1990	1	2	-				-	8	1	0	0	100.00%
NSW Country	1991	1	-	-				-	-	0	1	0	0.00%
Overall	1990-1994	16	5	0				0	20	9	7	0	56.25%
Club Career
Australian League Matches - By Year
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Canberra	NSWRL 1988	12	6	0	/	1	0.00%	2	26	7	5	0	58.33%
Canberra	NSWRL 1989	26	4	5	/	8	62.50%	6	32	18	8	0	69.23%
Canberra	NSWRL 1990	25	9	-				3	39	18	6	1	72.00%
Canberra	NSWRL 1991	24	7	-				-	28	15	9	0	62.50%
Canberra	NSWRL 1992	17	5	-				1	21	9	8	0	52.94%
Canberra	NSWRL 1993	20	3	-				4	16	16	3	1	80.00%
Canberra	NSWRL 1994	23	2	1	/	7	14.29%	2	12	18	5	0	78.26%
Canberra	ARL 1995	22	-	-				6	6	19	3	0	86.36%
Canberra	ARL 1996	2	-	1	/	2	50.00%	-	2	0	1	1	0.00%
Canberra	Super League 1997	16	2	-				-	8	9	7	0	56.25%
Canberra	NRL 1998	16	1	-				1	5	9	7	0	56.25%
Canterbury	NRL 1999	24	2	-				2	10	14	9	1	58.33%
Bulldogs	NRL 2000	16	-	-				-	-	7	8	1	43.75%
Overall	1988-2000	243	41	7	/	18	38.89%	27	205	159	79	5	65.43%
Australian League Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Canberra	1988-98	203	39	7	/	18	38.89%	25	195	138	62	3	67.98%
Canterbury	1999-00	40	2	-				2	10	21	17	2	52.50%
Overall	1988-2000	243	41	7	/	18	38.89%	27	205	159	79	5	65.43%
Australian Finals Matches - By Team
Team	Years	App	T	G			GK %	FG	Pts	W	L	D	Win %
Canberra	1988-91, 1994-95, 1997-98	24	1	-				4	8	15	9	0	62.50%
Canterbury	1999	2	-	-				-	-	1	1	0	50.00%
Overall	1988-1999	26	1	0				4	8	16	10	0	61.54%

Last modified: Fri, 17 May 2013 07:18:24 +1000 (Sydney time)