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NRL star seeking legal advice after Raiders coach Ricky Stuart calls him a ‘weak gutted dog’ in extraordinary press conference – as rugby league legends slam his ‘disgusting’ outburst
- Stuart has come under fire for scathing remarks about Panther Jaeman Salmon
- He referred to the Penrith five-eighth as a ‘weak gutted dog’ in a presser
- The Raiders coach is refusing to back down from the comments
- Salmon is reportedly considering legal action after the ‘extraordinary’ spray
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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has launched a withering spray at Panthers five-eighth Jaeman Salmon after he was seen kicking Tom Starling in the groin during Canberra’s 26-6 defeat on Saturday night.
In one of the most extraordinary press conferences in recent memory, Stuart labelled the Panther a ‘weak gutted dog’, which drew damning condemnation from NRL legends-turned-commentators Phil Gould, Brad Fittler, Cooper Cronk and Corey Parker.
The kick in question occurred in the 60th minute of the game, with Salmon’s foot seen making contact with Starling’s groin as the former tried to get up after being tackled.
A fuming Stuart, who was also no doubt emotional at the side’s disappointing loss that might knock them out of finals contention, could not contain his anger after the spiteful contest.
Jaeman Salmon’s (unseen, lying on ground) boot makes contact with Raiders hooker Tom Startling’s (number 14) groin as Salmon is trying to get up from a tackle
‘Where Salmon kicked Tommy (Starling), it ain’t on. I have had history with that kid (Salmon). I know that kid very well,’ Stuart said at the post-match press conference.
‘He was a weak gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He is a weak gutted dog person now.’
Stuart has refused to apologise for the comment, and reports have since emerged in the Sydney Morning Herald that Salmon would be seeking legal advice over the broadside.
Ricky Stuart shocked the media when he called Jaeman Salmon a ‘weak gutted dog’ in the post-match press conference
The astonishing spray shocked Gould, who admitted he ‘can’t imagine anything that would make me say something like that’.
‘Certainly Ricky on reflection saying he’s not apologising and he’s standing by what he said is rather extraordinary because I’ve never heard a coach say anything like that at a press conference,’ he said.
Regardless of whether the kick was intentional or not – though all four commentators believed it wasn’t – Stuart’s remarks were widely condemned.
The incident is just another chapter in the heated rivalry that has been simmering between the two clubs since Penrith star Jarome Luai hit Raiders forward high during a melee in 2019.
More to come…