‘Pretty boys like you… and him’: Ricky’s cheeky sledges for great and young gun after top gong

Ricky Stuart has won the Dally M Coach of the Year award after a stellar season at the helm for the Raiders.

Stuart steered a side many tipped to win the wooden spoon to minor premiership glory, however his side bowed out of the finals in straight sets.

It was the Raiders’ first minor premiership win since way back in 1990.

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Stuart was happy to give credit to others for his award.

“It’s an award that is owned by so many people. Everybody is on the journey with a coach and it’s hard to do it without them,” Stuart said.

“I always say, you can’t be a good coach without good players and I’ve got the best team in the competition.

“Personally I believe we should still be in the competition but I’m biased. I’m disappointed we’re not but it’ll give us fight and that’s what we have to do.

“I don’t see this as an award for me. It’s an award for my team, family and my whole club. “They give me the opportunity of being here.”

Stuart was asked by host Braith Anasta what had changed in the NRL since he started coaching way back in 2002.

“Pretty boys like you commentating,” Stuart said, lightheartedly to Anasta.

“Pretty boys like Ethan Strange I’m coaching. I love you as a bloke, those boys on that table and every other player I’ve coached.

“Over the last couple of weeks it’s been very hard because you’re not involved and I have a team good enough so it’s been dreadfully hard but I coach for one reason and it’s the blokes I coach.

“That’s what I coach for.”

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