Raiders coach cops weeklong ban, fine for ‘weakgutted dog’ comment
CANBERRA: Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has copped a onegame ban and fined $A25,000 for calling Penrith’s Jaeman Salmon a ‘‘weakgutted dog’’.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo delivered the sanction yesterday, confirming Stuart will not be allowed to lead his Raiders into their crunch clash against St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Stuart’s ban, the first time an NRL coach has been suspended for comments at a press conference, means he will not be allowed to train the Raiders until next Wednesday.
He also will not be allowed to provide any direction to any Raiders player or official during the weeklong suspension.
Abdo said leaders within rugby league needed to set the standard, and added Stuart, not the club, must pay the fine.
‘‘The comments are completely unacceptable from any individual, let alone an official of such experience and standing,’’ he said.
‘‘This is a highly unusual case and we have taken the significant step of proposing a suspension from his duties for one week.
‘‘This will be a full suspension precluding Ricky from having any involvement with any club activity either in person or remotely.’’
Stuart’s comments, made at his Saturday postmatch press conference, followed Salmon lashing out with his boot when tackled and connecting with
Tom Starling’s groin.
Tension between Stuart and Salmon dates back more than a decade to when Salmon played with Stuart’s son as a preteen in 2010, reportedly reducing the younger Stuart to tears in an incident that led to a confrontation between the pair’s fathers.
The monetary penalty takes Stuart’s total career of fines to $A160,000. — AAP