Ricky Stuart
Overview
Ricky Stuart is one of rugby league’s most accomplished figures as both a player and a coach. The halfback in Canberra’s “Green Machine,” he won three premierships with the Raiders and represented Australia in rugby league after touring with the Wallabies in rugby union. As a coach he won a premiership in his first season, has coached Australia and NSW, and has now coached more than 500 NRL games. He is head coach of the Canberra Raiders and was named 2025 Dally M Coach of the Year.
Who is Ricky Stuart?
Born in Queanbeyan, Ricky Stuart was first a standout rugby union player. He captained the Australian Schoolboys and toured Argentina with the Wallabies in 1987 before switching to rugby league with the Canberra Raiders in 1988. As the Raiders’ halfback he helped win premierships in 1989, 1990 and 1994, won the Clive Churchill Medal in the 1990 Grand Final, and in 1993 won both the Dally M Medal and the Rothmans Medal. He played nine Tests for Australia, including two Kangaroo tours, and 14 State of Origin games for New South Wales. He finished his playing career with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2000.
He began coaching in 2001, taking the Bulldogs’ Jersey Flegg side to a premiership. In 2002, his first season as an NRL head coach, he led the Sydney Roosters to their first premiership in 27 years. The Roosters went on to beat St Helens 38-0 in the 2003 World Club Challenge and reached three straight grand finals from 2002 to 2004. He coached New South Wales to the 2005 State of Origin series and Australia from 2006 to 2008, winning the Tri-Nations in his first year.
After coaching Cronulla and Parramatta, he returned to Canberra as head coach in 2014. He guided the Raiders to the 2019 Grand Final, became the club’s longest-serving coach, and is contracted until the end of 2029. He was named Dally M Coach of the Year in 2016 and again in 2025. He was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2018 and the NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2022, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2021. Off the field, he established the Ricky Stuart Foundation in 2011 to support families living with autism.
Career highlights
Head coach, Canberra Raiders, 2014 to present
Three premierships as a player with the Canberra Raiders (1989, 1990, 1994)
Dally M Medal and Rothmans Medal, 1993
Clive Churchill Medal, 1990
Nine Tests for Australia, 14 State of Origin games for NSW and two Kangaroo tours
1987 Wallabies tour of Argentina
NRL premiership as coach of the Sydney Roosters in 2002, his first season
2003 World Club Challenge win, 38-0 against St Helens
NSW State of Origin series win as coach, 2005
Australian coach, 2006 to 2008, Tri-Nations winner in 2006
Dally M Coach of the Year, 2016 and 2025
More than 500 NRL games as coach
NRL Hall of Fame (2018) and NSW Rugby League Hall of Fame (2022)
Member of the Order of Australia (AM), 2021
Founder of the Ricky Stuart Foundation
Key speaking themes
Leadership and building high-performance teams
Creating and sustaining a winning culture
Resilience and dealing with setbacks
Developing young talent
Passion, loyalty and purpose
What your audience will gain
Ricky is passionate, honest and direct. Audiences gain real-world lessons on leadership, culture and resilience from one of the few people to have reached the top of rugby league as both a player and a coach.
Ideal for
Leadership and CEO conferences
Sales kick-offs and team offsites
High-performance and culture events
Sports and community events
Charity and disability awareness events
Awards nights and gala dinners
Frequently asked questions
What does Ricky Stuart speak about?
Ricky Stuart speaks about leadership, team culture, resilience, developing talent and performing under pressure.
What is Ricky Stuart’s current role?
Ricky Stuart is head coach of the Canberra Raiders, a role he has held since 2014. He is contracted until the end of the 2029 season.
What did Ricky Stuart win as a player?
Ricky Stuart won three premierships with the Canberra Raiders (1989, 1990, 1994), the 1990 Clive Churchill Medal, and the 1993 Dally M and Rothmans Medals.
What has Ricky Stuart won as a coach?
Ricky Stuart coached the Sydney Roosters to the 2002 NRL premiership and the 2003 World Club Challenge, NSW to the 2005 State of Origin series, and Australia to the 2006 Tri-Nations. He was named Dally M Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2025.
How do I book Ricky Stuart as a speaker?
Ricky Stuart is available to book through Essential Talent. Call 0508 825 368 or use the enquiry form on this page.