Ricky Stuart criticizes ruck officiating after Raiders' win, urging adaptation for upcoming finals.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has expressed his frustration over the "awful" ruck officiating during Saturday's match against the Tigers, emphasizing that the Raiders will need to adapt their play if the standards persist in the upcoming NRL finals. The Raiders secured the minor premiership with a 24-10 victory at home, marking their first JJ Giltinan Shield win in 35 years.
Stuart voiced significant concerns during the post-match press conference. Reflecting on his team's performance against the Tigers, he acknowledged that they didn't play well and characterized the game as "messy."
When asked about the ruck officiating, he stated: "It was awful. I wasn't going to say anything but you've obviously seen it too. If the semi-final football is going to be that quality of ruck interpretation, we'll change the whole game."