Ricky Stuart: Origin's Saviour?

I hate to admit it but the main reason State of Origin is so exciting this year is because of Blues coach Ricky Stuart. Taking nothing away from the greatness of the mighty Maroons, I believe Stuart’s unbridled passion for Origin football has put a new and exciting spin on a concept now in its fourth decade.

Make no mistake, the current Queensland State of Origin team is a juggernaut, a once-in-a-generation mix of outstanding leadership, management, coaching and talent. While I have enjoyed every victory across the Maroons stellar six-year run, the wins have always meant more when beating spirited opposition, and you don’t get much more spirited than a Ricky Stuart-coached footy team.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ricky away from football and truth be told you can’t help but like the guy. He’s one of those rare individuals who can make you feel like you’re the only person in the room when you’re in his company. He’s smart, brutally honest, speaks his mind and always has time for people.

While Stuart’s place in rugby league is well known, it’s when he talks of his family and friends you see past the coach and get an insight into makes the man. Those in his circle of trust will tell you there’s not a more loyal or caring bloke on the planet and I’m sure his Blues players feel the same way.

Over the last couple of months, I have watched Stuart passionately promote all things New South Wales State of Origin. Many times I’ve thought that too much of his thinking has made its way into the public arena.  While Queensland were flying under the radar it seemed the Blues were having daily debates on everything from team selections to venues and referees.

But after seeing the television ratings for Origin I and noting the how many more conversations I’ve personally had about State of Origin this year, I’ve come to understand why Stuart’s public posturing has been a good thing for NSW, and almost necessary.

Up here in Queensland, we are openly passionate about Origin football. From the very rich and powerful through to the battlers and young families, we publicly celebrate our love for the mighty Maroons, often and loudly. We don’t hide; it can even be embarrassing at times, but it’s there for all to see.
I won’t say that NSW don’t have the same passion for State of Origin, but I do believe it’s often hidden away. One of the many good things Ricky Stuart has been able to achieve over the last 18 months is to help NSW fans feel proud to be openly passionate about their footy team.

Every time Stuart fronts a camera or puts pen to paper you get a sense that this bloke would give his right arm to see NSW beat Queensland. He smiles and jumps around when things are going well but looks all bitter and twisted when things go the way of the Maroons.

Origin means so much to Stuart and he will never stop wearing his blue heart on his sleeve. The whole of NSW is feeding off his emotions at the moment and it’s taken the competitive tension between the two bitter rivals to a whole new level.

Ricky’s passion is also doing weird and wonderful things to us rednecks north of the border. Never in my life have I wanted to see Queensland beat NSW so badly and I know I have Ricky Stuart to thank for that.

Next Wednesday night, like the rest of my fellow Queenslanders, I can’t wait to loathe the NSW coach and his band of merry blue men. Nothing would give me greater delight than to see Queensland beat NSW on their home turf, in front of their home crowd at a time when it has never meant more to them.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/ricky-stuart-origins-saviour-20120605-1ztzu.html#ixzz1wzfawg1w

One-Time Foes United On Plan For Two Stadiums to Cover All Codes

In a ''back to the future'' strategy, two long-term rugby league administrators have combined to rationalise the use of NSW government-controlled stadiums, possibly leading to the return of the long-abandoned Sydney ''match of the day''.

The former National Rugby League director of football operations and now Sports Minister, Graham Annesley, has appointed former league supremo John Quayle chairman of a new statutory body called Venues NSW.

Annesley, by negotiating the legislation through the State Parliament late last year and appointing Quayle to the position in February, has shown he is still a step ahead of the NRL club chief executives and chairmen he once administered.

Bosses of clubs such as the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Dragons and Roosters have recently raised the prospect of a heavily-promoted weekly rugby league match being played at one of Sydney's two major grounds, Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium.

Venues NSW has been empowered to take control of government-owned stadiums and entertainment centres in Newcastle, Wollongong and Parramatta away from local trusts where they compete against each other for resources and events.

The new statutory body will not embrace the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust that also controls Allianz Stadium, nor will it have any immediate influence over ANZ Stadium. However, the legislation does allow Venues NSW to ultimately take control of all NSW government-owned stadiums.
Annesley admitted a two-stadium policy for major rugby league, rugby union and soccer matches in
Sydney was a long-term possibility.

''Sometime these things come in small steps,'' the minister said. ''The SCG is an iconic venue and controlled by a trust. It's not on the current agenda for Venues NSW to take it under its umbrella but the legislation does allow us to add venues.

''Homebush is owned by a private consortium but does come back to government ownership in approximately 2031.

''The three we've put together for now - Newcastle, Wollongong and Parramatta - are very similar venues and we believe we will achieve economies of scale, superior bargaining powers and stop, say, Newcastle and Wollongong bidding against each other for events where the only winners are the promoters.''

Annesley, who is the member for Miranda, was guarded on the long-term possibility of all existing suburban rugby league stadiums, such as the Sharks' Toyota Stadium, being closed and all games played at Allianz and ANZ.

This is the situation in Melbourne where all AFL games are played at either the MCG or Etihad Stadium, with famous old suburban grounds, such as Essendon's Windy Hill, now used as training venues.

''It's paying dividends for the AFL,'' he said, in reference to big crowds and superior facilities. ''But how long does it take to make the change? I understand there was initial resistance in Melbourne.''
Typically, Quayle was more direct, fully endorsing the AFL model.

After resigning as ARL chief executive in 1996, he was in charge of venues at the Sydney Olympics and then advised Athens, London and Rio de Janeiro on the modelling of their facilities for the 2004, 2012 and 2016 Olympics respectively.

He was a consultant much in demand for the Pan American Games and Asian Games in the Middle East.

''I've looked at sport around the world and it's inevitable we are moving to shared facilities where the one stadium can host multiple events in different sporting codes,'' he said. ''The AFL model is the best. Queensland, with Suncorp for the rugby codes and soccer and Ballymore for AFL and cricket, is also very good.''

Asked if he supported a new stadium in Sydney's west to cater for the latest A-League franchise, he said he would prefer to close in Parramatta Stadium with stands at either end and cater for another 10,000 fans.

Too much money had been spent by past governments reacting to emotional cries to renovate Belmore, Kogarah and Leichhardt, he said.

He will head a board of eight, embracing the chairs of the Illawarra (Wollongong), Hunter (Newcastle) and western Sydney (Parramatta) local venue centres, as well as state government appointees, including former Magpie great, John Dorahy.

''What we will be doing is designed for the next 20 years, not next year,'' Quayle said.
''No longer should we take emotion into decision making and invest in facilities which may operate only in the short term.''

Annesley and Quayle, opponents in the 1995-97 Super League war when Annesley was a referee in the rival competition, have obviously discarded any emotional shackles from that era to work together for the future of their state.

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