- Jed Stuart to make NRL debut for Raiders
- Has impressed on the wing in NSW Cup
- Will officially became Raider no.404
- His father Ricky Stuart is a club legend
When his beloved Canberra Raiders run out on Friday night against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium, Ricky Stuart will be more nervous than usual.
Famed for his emotion on game day, the head coach will be bursting with pride as his son Jed makes his NRL debut.
And the winger, 23, has certainly earnt his opportunity.
Stuart has been 18th man in four NRL fixtures this season – including’s the club’s season opener against the New Zealand Warriors in Las Vegas.
An injury to fellow young gun Savelio Tamale saw Stuart as the logical replacement in the run on side – but his father still needed some convincing.
‘I spoke to all the senior boys. Joe [Tapine] was very positive and strong about it,’ Ricky Stuart told the Sydney Morning Herald.
When his beloved Canberra Raiders run out on Friday night against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium, Ricky Stuart will be more nervous than usual
Famed for his emotion on game day, the head coach will be bursting with pride as his son Jed (pictured, right) makes his NRL debut
Ricky Stuart (pictured, left) joked this week he may have a shot of whisky to calm his nerves ahead of Jed’s NRL debut
‘Hudson Young was good. His remark was, ‘We’ve got a winger injured, it’s like for like, and we don’t lose anything….and it’s not great disruption for the team.
‘It shows our second-grade team that if you’re playing well, if there’s an injury, we can show faith in the boys in the NSW Cup team.
‘Jed has been very committed for the past three seasons and it hasn’t been easy for him. There’s no handout, it hasn’t been an easy ride. He’s earned every opportunity he gets.’
The coach was also far too emotional to inform Jed of the good news – so the task was given to Tapine.
Stuart – who has played 57 NSW Cup games and scored 22 tries – stated he doesn’t feel any pressure when it comes to living up to his famous surname.
His father is a Raiders legend, winning three premierships in his playing days before turning his attention to coaching.
‘It’s such a weird one. Everyone always asks me (about that) and I don’t think there is (pressure) because I don’t know any difference,’ he said.
‘More than anything, I just want to make my teammates proud.
‘It’s a big privilege and I’m grateful to be able to play with Papa (Josh Papalii) and Taps (Joe Tapine) who have been so good throughout their careers.
‘I want to do all the little things right and all the hard efforts for them.’
