{"id":751753,"date":"2026-06-21T23:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T23:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/751753\/"},"modified":"2026-06-21T23:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T23:44:13","slug":"ricky-truth-that-can-no-longer-be-ignored-in-nrl-trainwreck-roosters-1m-mistake-crawls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/751753\/","title":{"rendered":"Ricky truth that can no longer be ignored in NRL \u2018trainwreck\u2019; Roosters $1m mistake \u2014 Crawls"},"content":{"rendered":"

Talk about a fall from grace for the Canberra Raiders.<\/p>\n

In one of the most embarrassing twists of this NRL season, last year\u2019s minor premiers will face St George Illawarra on Sunday in a clash between the NRL\u2019s bottom two teams.<\/p>\n

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We can\u2019t exactly call it a spoon bowl play-off because the Raiders are six competition points clear of the Dragons and still have an extra bye up their sleeve.<\/p>\n

Barring a complete disaster, the Raiders won\u2019t finish last.<\/p>\n

But there is no escaping the reality that this has become a trainwreck of a season for Ricky Stuart\u2019s team that finished first on the ladder just eight months ago.<\/p>\n

They are now officially the biggest disappointment of 2026 after blowing a 16-0 lead to crash to a 42-20 loss to Melbourne.<\/a><\/p>\n

It leaves the Raiders with just five wins from 15 games.<\/p>\n

So what has gone so horribly wrong?<\/p>\n

And why doesn\u2019t Ricky cop the same scrutiny as other coaches under the pump like Michael Maguire and Cameron Ciraldo, who have been getting absolutely hammered for most of the season?<\/p>\n

Many will argue Ricky only escapes the blowtorch because of his mates in the media.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s try and give a little more context to the debate than that.<\/p>\n

First up, losing Jamal Fogarty was clearly more significant than many of us realised.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again _ the Raiders did offer Fogarty a fair two-year deal and it was nothing like the treatment Toby Sexton copped at the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n

Next up are injuries and in particular the loss of Josh Papalii and Simi Sasagi has been underestimated.<\/p>\n

But again, every team has injuries, and those factors alone don\u2019t explain the full scale of this collapse.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

Dogs\u2019 desperate halves switch; Blues bolter as Latrell gives cryptic Origin call<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018Stunk of booze and cigarettes\u2019: Ex-NRL beast accused of hiding \u2018telling\u2019 footage<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018If Joey does it…\u2019: Matty\u2019s huge Blues offer as NRL great calls for mass changes<\/a><\/p>\n

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – MAY 10: Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has endured a frustrating season.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Other warning signs have also been there all season.<\/p>\n

Canberra\u2019s discipline has been poor from the opening rounds and it continues to hurt them.<\/p>\n

Against Melbourne they completed at just 74 per cent compared to the Storm\u2019s 89 per cent.<\/p>\n

There is also a legitimate argument the Raiders massively over-achieved to finish as minor premiers last season.<\/p>\n

But the heartbreak and controversial circumstances surrounding their finals collapse has left mental scars that they have struggled to overcome.<\/p>\n

You go through the form of individuals.<\/p>\n

Last year Keao Weekes was one of the competition\u2019s breakout stars. This season his form has mirrored that of the team.<\/p>\n

The same can be said of Ethan Strange, who despite his outstanding Origin debut has struggled to have the same impact at club level since his move from the left to right edge.<\/p>\n

But the loss to the Storm also exposed an even bigger issue for me.<\/p>\n

Melbourne roll out a spine featuring Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes as the 9, 6 and 7.<\/p>\n

Proven big match winners who have dominated the biggest stages over many years.<\/p>\n

It puts into perspective where Canberra is lacking.<\/p>\n

They simply don\u2019t have the elite and experienced players in key positions to match the competition\u2019s heavyweight contenders, with Fogarty\u2019s departure only magnifying the weakness.<\/p>\n

So the challenge for Canberra is deciding what comes next.<\/p>\n

Do the Raiders stay patient with the young halves pairing of Strange and Ethan Sanders, and accept there will be growing pains?<\/p>\n

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 21: The Raiders are in freefall\/Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Or do they go to market for an experienced chief playmaker to come and do a job like Fogarty did previously, or like Tanah Boyd and Te Maire Martin have done at the Warriors?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget an even younger Coby Black is probably still a season away from challenging Sanders for the Raiders\u2019 No 7 jumper.<\/p>\n

And as I mentioned previously, many will also argue Ricky should be copping similar scrutiny to what Maguire and Ciraldo have received already this season.<\/p>\n

But the reality is that conversation is going nowhere.<\/p>\n

Stuart isn\u2019t getting sacked for the reasons mentioned above relating to the struggle of getting players to want to play and live in Canberra.<\/p>\n

Love him or hate him, he is the reason Canberra has remained competitive for so long despite the challenges of attracting and retaining elite talent.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean the Raiders or Ricky should get a free pass.<\/p>\n

We already know the Raiders won\u2019t be playing finals football this year.<\/p>\n

All they can hope is to salvage some respect and credibility _ starting by not losing to the Dragons this week.<\/p>\n

Chooks prevail in fiery clash | 01:56<\/p>\n

WALKER NOW WORTH SAME SALARY AS CLEARY AND MOSES?<\/p>\n

Have the Sydney Roosters made an expensive mistake delaying contract talks with Sam Walker?<\/p>\n

Rumours have circulated for months that the Roosters have been going slow on Walker\u2019s extension as they keep an eye on Nathan Cleary\u2019s future when he becomes a free agent in 2028.<\/p>\n

But while Cleary remains the benchmark halfback in the game, Walker is rapidly emerging as his most genuine challenger to his crown on the back of two outstanding Origin performances for Queensland.<\/p>\n

And the scary part is Walker is still only 23.<\/p>\n

Walker returned from Origin duty on Sunday night and again impressed in the Roosters\u2019 win over Cronulla.<\/p>\n

Leading into Origin there were genuine questions about whether his defence could withstand rugby league\u2019s toughest arena.<\/p>\n

Not only did he survive, he\u2019s thrived.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, every strong performance is driving his value higher.<\/p>\n

Another big game in the Origin decider will only strengthen his bargaining position.<\/p>\n

It has been reported that Cleary and Mitchell Moses are currently the game\u2019s highest-paid halfbacks on around $1.3 million a season.<\/p>\n

Walker is reportedly earning closer to the $1 million mark.<\/p>\n

Based on what we\u2019ve seen from Walker in the last month, that gap may not exist for much longer.<\/p>\n

The Roosters may soon discover holding off on getting a deal done may become a very expensive decision.<\/p>\n

Dogs upset Manly in GP thriller | 02:21<\/p>\n

CIRALDO CREATES MORE CONFUSION AT DOGS<\/p>\n

We are 16 rounds into the season and Cameron Ciraldo continues his game of musical chairs with the Bulldogs halves.<\/p>\n

And even though Stephen Crichton came up with the match-winning field goal in the golden point win over Manly, I still can\u2019t get my head around the decision to shift his skipper to five-eighth and move Matt Burton back to the centres.<\/a><\/p>\n

Any way you look at it, Crichton just doesn\u2019t look comfortable playing the ball-playing role _ just as Lachlan Galvin doesn\u2019t look comfortable playing halfback.<\/p>\n

And why you\u2019d want to move one of the game\u2019s best centres out of position this late in the season is beyond me.<\/p>\n

Ciraldo explained the switch was designed to help Burton rediscover his best football by reducing some of his playmaking responsibilities.<\/p>\n

But that still doesn\u2019t change the fact Burton remains Canterbury\u2019s best five-eighth.<\/p>\n

As for Crichton, this year he\u2019s gone from left centre to right centre, back to left centre, had a cameo at five-eighth and now gets the job on a fulltime basis.<\/p>\n

Further to that, we\u2019ve said it all year Galvin is a five-eighth, not a halfback.<\/p>\n

No wonder their attack looks confused.<\/p>\n

But to their credeit the Dogs still found a way.<\/p>\n

The defensive effort to hold the high-scoring Sea Eagles to just three tries highlighted why you can\u2019t write them off making a late charge towards the finals.<\/p>\n

Manly finished with seven line breaks to four and completed far more attacking opportunities.<\/p>\n

Yet Canterbury\u2019s desperation kept them alive.<\/p>\n

That sort of effort deserves respect.<\/p>\n

So we\u2019ll let Bulldogs fans enjoy the moment and worry about the positional musical chairs again next week.<\/p>\n

‘Shades of Vegas’: Ciro explains switch | 08:07<\/p>\n

JURY OUT IF FOGARTY CAN TAKE MANLY ALL THE WAY<\/p>\n

Back to Jamal Fogarty and the criticism that followed him at Canberra still hangs over the Manly halfback\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

The Sea Eagles should have beaten the Bulldogs comfortably in this one.<\/p>\n

And even after blowing a stack of chances, they still could have escaped with the win had Fogarty nailed one of two great field goal opportunities.<\/p>\n

But he again froze in the moment.<\/p>\n

He also missed all his conversions.<\/p>\n

I know it\u2019s easy to point out a player\u2019s flaws watching from the stands or on TV.<\/p>\n

But when you\u2019re an NRL chief playmaker, you\u2019re paid the big bucks to own the big moments.<\/p>\n

Fogarty has been fantastic this season and his general kicking game is among the best in the competition.<\/p>\n

But until he shows he can ice the big plays in high pressure situations, the jury will be out on whether Manly can win the premiership.<\/p>\n

‘SHOULD have put the game away’ | 06:00<\/p>\n

LITTLE BROTHER STEPS OUT OF BENJI\u2019S SHADOW<\/p>\n

We wrote last week that Kodi Nikorima is the most underrated playmaker in the NRL.<\/p>\n

You could make the same argument for teammate Jeremy Marshall-King at dummy half.<\/p>\n

Both were outstanding for the Dolphins in the win over Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d argue Marshall-King was even more important than Nikorima when he returned to the field in the closing stages and took this game by the scruff of the neck.<\/p>\n

While he has never attracted anywhere near the fanfare that followed older brother Benji, Marshall-King has quietly developed into one of the genuine top-shelf players in the game.<\/p>\n

With Isaiya Katoa rested and their Origin stars unavailable, the Dolphins had plenty against them.<\/p>\n

Yet when the game was there to be won, it was Marshall-King who stepped up and took control.<\/p>\n

His composure and ability to consistently make the right decision will be invaluable come finals time.<\/p>\n

Alongside Katoa, Nikorima and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, he helps give the Dolphins one of the most dangerous spines in the competition.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s now seven straight wins for Kristian Woolf\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

The Tigers were brave but let themselves down at crucial times.<\/p>\n

Fingers crossed they\u2019ll have Adam Doueihi back this round to take on the Knights on Sunday.<\/p>\n

DRAGONS CAN EMULATE KNIGHTS NEXT YEAR<\/p>\n

Speaking of Newcastle, the Knights have shown St George Illawarra fans that anything is possible with the right coach.<\/p>\n

What Justin Holbrook has achieved with last year\u2019s wooden spooners is remarkable.<\/p>\n

While they weren\u2019t at their best against the Dragons, they still found a way to win without Kalyn Ponga.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what good teams do.<\/p>\n

As for the Dragons, it\u2019s becoming harder and harder to ignore the improvement since Dean Young took over from Shane Flanagan.<\/p>\n

They actually outscored Newcastle four tries to three and were right in the contest until the end, with the missed Val Holmes conversion proving costly.<\/p>\n

Which raises the obvious question: has Young already done enough to earn the job full-time?<\/p>\n

There is speculation Ben Hornby remains firmly in the mix as the interview process moves along at a snail\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n

While no one doubts Hornby has the credentials to become an NRL head coach, Young was the one who stepped into a situation that looked almost impossible to rescue.<\/p>\n

Yet the improvement in attitude and effort has been obvious.<\/p>\n

Add Scott Drinkwater, Luke Metcalf, Connor Watson and Keaon Koloamatangi next season and the Dragons immediately become a side capable of playing finals footy.<\/p>\n

The club should stop dragging this out and just make a decision.<\/p>\n

If they haven\u2019t seen enough by now, what are another few games really going to tell them?<\/p>\n

Hannay claims Titans ready for top teams | 09:08<\/p>\n

TITANS YOUNG GUN THE REAL DEAL<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll forgive Penrith for letting one slip given they were without their Origin stars.<\/p>\n

But gee Titans rookie Zane Harrison looks something special.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old halfback was playing just his sixth NRL game, yet produced two clutch plays to sink the competition\u2019s benchmark team.<\/p>\n

First he backed himself down the short side to put Phil Sami over for a crucial try.<\/p>\n

Then, with 10 seconds remaining, he calmly slotted the winning field goal.<\/p>\n

It was Gold Coast\u2019s first win over Penrith in seven years and another sign of the improvement under Josh Hannay.<\/p>\n

This felt like the type of win that can convince a young team it has finally turned the corner.<\/p>\n

WARRIORS ENFORCER FIRES BACK AT BLUES\u2019 CRITICS<\/p>\n

Just when you thought Mitch Barnett might be under pressure to keep his spot for the Origin decider, the Warriors skipper produced exactly the response Laurie Daley would have wanted to see.<\/p>\n

With James Fisher-Harris and Kurt Capewell unavailable, and Jackson Ford injured early, Barnett carried the load up front with 23 runs for 179 metres and 28 tackles in the win over North Queensland.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys threw plenty at the Warriors, with Scott Drinkwater outstanding, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad grabbed the headlines with four tries.<\/p>\n

But Barnett\u2019s effort through the middle was every bit as important.<\/p>\n

As for Ford, the timing of his suspected pec injury couldn\u2019t be worse.<\/p>\n

He should have been in the Blues squad already, and probably would have been for the decider.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope the injury doesn\u2019t finish his season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Talk about a fall from grace for the Canberra Raiders. In one of the most embarrassing twists of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":751754,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-751753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=751753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751753\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/751754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=751753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=751753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=751753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}