Ricky Stuart's latest excuse for his already dismal failings at Canberra is he will rebuild the team as "he" successfully did at Parramatta.
FACT. When you left for Canberra you made a parting swipe at the Eels saying "you now have a talented roster you can coach" In the space of a full off-season and 11 rounds that talented roster now have no talent? and need to go.
FACT. The "clean out" at the Eels you believe was your master stroke was something any new coach would have done...just not with an over head projector. The fans even knew which players had to go for Christ sake, and there were no surprises with any names in the unwanted dozen. Which players who are still on our roster today improved as a result of your coaching? Many went backwards.
FACT. You are now taking responsibility as well for your recruitment at the Eels. Let me see, you were going to bring the "big names" to the club such is your respect and name as a coach. Matt Scott, James Tamou, Greg Bird, Robbie Farah, Gareth Hock, Josh Papalli. No, no, no, no, no, no. Corey Norman signed because of his relationship with Peter Nolan, Hoppa was signed by Kearney, Manu Mau and Kenny Edwards along with Semi also recruited by Nolan, none had first grade experience and hardly the "big names" promised. So that leaves Peats, my hat off to you there and Mossop still untested. We missed out on Folau because of Ian Shubert but one of his interests was to play along side his brother not to mention the main one, a massive pay day (GWS ring a bell $$$)- Why the Waratah's?- The highest bidder! not to just be coached by the great Ricky Stuart.
I laughed reading today Don Furner say you are the best man for the job. Why? because you beat the Cowboys at home with what will be their worst roster all season and who were still well and truly in the game up until half-time. Good luck this week with the Roosters with a 68% completion rate (28/41 complete sets) 14 handling errors, winning the penalty count 9-5. Shows how woeful the Cowboys were.
The Raiders "clean-out". I hope you net all the players you are currently going after, us long suffering eels fans have had to endure years of paying massive overs to attract players. Wow you would need a big pay day to head to Canberra. Ennis wants a 3 year deal to end his career ($1.5m) and anyone else that comes will be cha ching $$$$$ and long term deals. Hang on, why are you after a hooker? You said Glen Buttress was a future rep player and the same about Josh McCrone when you successfully? converted him to a hooker in the off-season. Good luck with 2015, looks like 2014 is already a write off because you just don't have the cattle now, well you did but now say you don't. Excuse 18264963830261100 and still counting in the Ricky Stuart play book.
The current Raiders players will now go through what ours did in 2013. Gotta feel sorry for them just a little.
Ps. Bert's last ever blog on Ricky Stuart.
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Funny how every team Stuart coaches needs 'rebuilding'.
Wasn't Kenny Edwards suggested by Will Badel?
Trouble is, if he is to rebuild the Raiders the same way (he thinks he did at Parra), he would have to leave.
Farah, Luke, Ennis, john Morris, friend, Kingston/segeyaro. These guys are all quality hookers it was really a no brainer that peats had to go to parra to play first grade, so no real coup there from dicky Stuart either.