McFadden confirms position as Stuart’s assistant in Canberra

Former Warriors NRL coach Andrew McFadden will join Canberra as an assistant to Ricky Stuart next season.

The former Canberra, Parramatta and Melbourne halfback returns to his home town after signing a twoyear-deal that will keep him at the Raiders until at least the end of 2020.

The man they call ‘Cappy’ is back in the Australian capital after six years in Auckland, where he started as an assistant to former Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott in 2013.

The 40-year-old took over the top job in 2014 but was sacked in October 2016 after almost three seasons as head coach, before staying on as an assistant to Stephen Kearney for the past two years.

McFadden’s departure was announced in February and a return to the Raiders always seemed likely given he played 76 games in green between 1997 and 2001.

Once his playing career ended in 2004, McFadden returned to Canberra and began coaching the club’s Jersey Flegg side and later spent three years as an assistant to Raiders head coach David Furner (2010-12).

“Ricky had to find the person he wanted but I’m very grateful I’ve got the opportunity to go back there and coach again,” McFadden said.

McFadden’s move reunites him with Stuart, who owned the Raiders No 7 jersey when McFadden first emerged in the NRL, before the former dual Australian international left to join Canterbury in 1999.

Stuart is renown as one of the most competitive and intense figures in the game but McFadden describes another side and is excited to work with the three-time grand final, Clive Churchill and Dally M medal winner.

“I had two years in the fulltime squad with Ricky when I first started,” said McFadden. “Most of my early first grade opportunities happened when Ricky was sick [with encephalitis].

“He was great. Ricky is, and has always been, completely competitive

on the field. What you see is what you get, in terms of the way he comes across. He was always good to me.

“He’s very passionate but he’s also a very caring person and that always was displayed even back when I came through.”

McFadden joins Brett White as Stuart’s lieutenants and replaces Mick Crawley, who departed the club at the end of the season.