Ricky eyes 'life changing' premiership after inking new Raiders deal

After putting pen to paper on a new four-year deal to coach the Raiders through to the end of 2029, Ricky Stuart has made it his mission to change of the lives of his players by guiding them to a premiership.

Having recently celebrated his 500th game as an NRL coach, Stuart is already the longest-serving coach in Canberra's history with the new deal set to take him to an incredible 16th year with the Raiders after taking the job in 2014.

As he prepares to join a host of Raiders legends in Brisbane this weekend for the 30-year reunion of their 1994 premiership, he stated his desire to deliver the club a fourth title after coming so close in 2019.

"My ultimate goal is to change every one of my players’ lives that I coach, in regards to one day hoping we can get to win a grand final because it changes your life, you’re a premiership-winning player," Stuart told media on Wednesday.

"It's so hard to explain the feeling but I’ll witness it again this weekend at the reunion in Brisbane when 15 of those boys get together and my ultimate goal is to be able to do that for a player here.

"There’s not a coach out there that doesn’t want to win a premiership, they just don’t all say it because it puts too much pressure on them. I’m happy to put pressure on myself, I want to win a competition and I want to win it at this club.

"It gives me great satisfaction that I am going to have more time with a lot of the younger players coming through our squad and to see them through the early part of their NRL careers."

After a decorated playing career with the Raiders before finishing with the Bulldogs, Stuart began his coaching career in 2002 at the Roosters with great success – winning a premiership in his maiden season as head coach.

He joined the Sharks in 2007 before moving on to the Eels in 2013, linking up with the Raiders the following year in a move that mirrored his playing career.

He was named the Dally M Coach of the Year in 2016 and has taken the Raiders to a Grand Final in 2019 and preliminary finals on two occasions.

Stuart will coach his 502nd game as coach when the Raiders take on the Bulldogs in the opening game of the NRL's Magic Round weekend.

“The Raiders are in the process of moving through a significant transition, with one of the youngest playing squads in the NRL and we see Ricky as a central part of that transition,” said club chairman Dennis Richardson.

“His values and character have been an important ingredient in the attraction of the young talent we’ve been able to bring to the club in recent times.

“His re-signing until the end of the decade provides continuity and certainty for a playing group which we believe has the potential to deliver the ultimate prize in the coming years.

“As everyone knows, Ricky is very much a part of the Canberra, Queanbeyan and regional community and his commitment and passion for the green machine is legendary.”