Stuart commits as Raiders mentor

RICKY Stuart will be the first man to jump off the NRL coaching merry-go-round after agreeing to a contract extension at Canberra until at least the end of 2025.

It comes as speculation mounts over the futures of Parramatta’s Brad Arthur and St George Illawarra’s Anthony Griffin, whose position was up for discussion at a board meeting on Tuesday night.

The Dragons said it was a regular board meeting and that Griffin was safe for the remainder of his contract, which was extended earlier this season until the end of next year.

That hasn’t stopped talk of unrest among the players and certain sections at board level.

There have also been claims that Arthur’s management has shopped the Eels coach to a rival club for next season.

The other coaches under huge pressure are Gold Coast’s Justin Holbrook and Newcastle’s Adam O’Brien.

Arthur has denied any knowledge of the situation and said it was his intention to honour his deal, which finishes at the end of 2024.

However, he is under pressure to make sure the Eels deliver in this year’s finals series given they have not made it past week two of the playoffs on Arthur’s watch.

Stuart (pictured) has locked up his future at the Raiders. He has already made a grand final and two preliminary finals during the same period Arthur has been at the Eels.

Stuart had been linked to the Bulldogs after a third party made an inquiry about his availability, but he has made it clear he will not coach against the Raiders.

Stuart is only five short of the Raiders’ record for most games coached at the club, held by Tim Sheens (219).

Overall, Stuart has coached 459 games, which puts him fifth on the all-time list behind Wayne Bennett (890), Sheens (669), Brian Smith (601) and Craig Bellamy (515).

Des Hasler is next behind Stuart on 451 games.

Stuart kicked off his coaching career in 2002 at the Roosters, where he was in charge for 130 games and won a premiership in his rookie season.