- Ricky Stuart fumes at media over Kyle Flanagan backlash
- Flanagan was booed by Canberra fans on Saturday night
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has taken an enormous swipe at reporters after Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan was booed in Canberra.
Canberra are eyeing a first minor premiership in 35 years after hat-trick hero Kaeo Weekes inspired a 28-24 defeat of gallant St George Illawarra at GIO Stadium.
With their seventh consecutive win, Canberra move two competition points clear atop the NRL ladder and enjoy a favourable run to finals.
However, Stuart was left fuming with the media after a reporter asked Dragons coach Shane Flanagan about his son being booed at GIO Stadium.
‘Probably a poor question too when you ask Shane about his son,’ Stuart said.
‘I think it is a disgrace how you guys in the media are just absolutely bashing the kid publicly. And that question there about the booing, like honestly, I have got a son playing and that’s my biggest fear, you people.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart slammed media after Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan was booed in Canberra
Raiders faithful booed Kyle Flanagan as he lined up a conversion during the match
‘Not him, but the media. The way he is being portrayed in the media at the moment that poor kid.
‘I went up to him after the game and took him aside and spoke to him. I’ve known him since he has been a little boy.
‘He was the leader tonight. He led the charge in terms of them getting back into that game.
‘I think it is a disgrace that his so-called Dragons supporters, the social media and the bulls**t that he has to listen to and cop… You have got to actually look at some of these people involved.
‘It would be torture for his mother. I know his old man will handle it, but it would be torture for his mother. Can you imagine if it was one of yours. That’s when it becomes real.’
The Raiders still have two byes to come across the last nine rounds of the regular season and face only two sides that began this weekend in the top eight – fewer than minor premiership rivals Canterbury and Melbourne.
‘I was that confident we were going to be a good team this year, no I didn’t think we were going to be where we are today,’ said Stuart.
‘But their hard work, commitment, our leadership and their buy-in has got us in a healthy position at the moment.’
Canberra are eyeing a first minor premiership in 35 years after hat-trick hero Kaeo Weekes inspired a 28-24 defeat of gallant St George Illawarra at GIO Stadium
Since their inaugural season 44 years ago, the Raiders have claimed the minor premiership just once before: in 1990, with a team boasting Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley and Stuart.
After an early dogfight against the Dragons, hat-trick hero Kaeo Weekes came up with a performance to rival any of those men.
‘He just takes our team to another level,’ Stuart said of his fullback.
