Ricky Stuart unleashes on player managers and NRL on contract dealings
Ricky Stuart unleashed today on the behaviour of player managers and the NRL over contract dealings, as it was confirmed today that John Bateman would be leaving the club.
"It was always going to happen. I'm proud of the club that they put a timeline on it. We're sick of waiting. We knew what was going to happen, so we were sick of waiting and to Don's credit, he put a time frame on his manager, and we got what we knew was coming," Stuart said.
"It's very disappointing. John's a real big part of the squad. He's a world class player, so to lose him really disappoints me."
"We here at the club have worked so hard to build a strong roster and then you're getting players pulled out of it the way John has, has really disappointed me. Disappointed me with how the game allows it. The game, the NRL need to help clubs in regards to how we have to deal with certain managers, over the way they agitate clubs and the way they manipulate communications and negotiations to suit them only."
"It's not always in the best interests of the player, and it disappoints me because it's so hard to build a strong roster. But I'm proud of the club that it took a stance and wanted to get a decision. Because the last thing we're going to be is a club such as the Broncos or the Warriors, where they've just been ruined by agitation and manipulation of roster."
"I've got a lot of respect for John [Bateman] as a bloke, and I've got on with him very well. As a footballer, I have the very highest degree of respect."
"We offered John a very, very good offer last year to his English manager and then his new manager. It was a very, very good offer. And it was the words of... "you're getting closer"... I thought was disrespectful to Don and the club. And that day there, I knew we wouldn't be keeping John... and therefore, we needed to spend the money [elsewhere]."
"It won't affect my relationship with John at all. I understand it's a professional business and you've got to make these decisions. But it’s just how it has been done has disappointed me."
Full interview:
https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/06 ... ns-future/
Ricky goes nuclear as he lashes Bateman’s ‘manipulating, agitating’ manager over star Raider’s exit:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... ca8b5f6495
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart calls on NRL to fix player manager mess after John Bateman quits:
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... #gsc.tab=0
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... e49c714cab
https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/john-batem ... 18bb6c94b3
VIDEO: Hear from Ricky Stuart as he discussed John Bateman 's future after it was announced he would be leaving the club at the end of this season:
https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/06 ... ns-future/
Canberra Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad takes out tackle of the week! What a try saver! #NRL #WeAreRaiders #wearecbr
VIDEO: Robbie Farah says the Canberra Raiders were right to not match the money asked by John Bateman and is confident the club will be able to find a replacement:
https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/06/30/far ... n-bateman/
@TheGHRaiders on Twitter
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart tells all on the John Bateman contract drama, dropping Curtis Scott to the bench, and the latest on Corey Horsburgh's surgery. WIN News Canberra reports:
http://ow.ly/TftG50AlvRB
#NRL #WeAreRaiders #wearecbr