Raiders coach Ricky Stuart reveals if Des Hasler’s recent bruise outside the Canberra dressing room ruined a 35-year friendship
- Ricky Stuart has denied having any animosity towards Des Hasler
- Coaches were at loggerheads after recent NRL game
- The friendship dates back to when the players were playing at the highest level in the early 1990s.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has dismissed suggestions of a feud with Titans counterpart Des Hasler following their ugly confrontation outside the dressing room in Canberra on April 14.
The Canberra great, 57, and Hasler, 63, exchanged barbs following the Raiders’ controversial 21-20 win which saw Kieran Foran’s Titans field goal attempt snuffed out by Chevy offside Stewart – but no penalty was called.
Stuart said Hasler was “on another planet” after the Titans mentor blasted Kasey Badger’s officiating in the post-match press conference.
Stuart hit back and accused the Titans of “cheating” by battling his players to slow down the ruck – then multiple witnesses confirmed the fired-up Raiders coach said “fuck you” to Hasler amid tensions threatened to overflow.
This comes despite the pair having a seemingly long-standing friendship, playing for the NSW Blues at half-time in their must-win State of Origin II match in Melbourne in 1990.
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has dismissed suggestions of a feud with Gold Coast Titans counterpart Des Hasler.
Stuart said Hasler was “on another planet” after the Titans mentor blasted Kasey Badger’s officiating during the post-match press conference on April 14.
Raiders players celebrate a Jamal Fogarty field goal that sealed a 21-20 victory over the winless Titans
Following this performance in Origin, Stuart and Hasler were chosen for the 1990 Kangaroos tour of Britain and France.
Speaking ahead of the Raiders’ clash with the Broncos this weekend, Stuart said he had no animosity towards Hasler, whose team remains winless in 2024.
“There’s not a single problem between us,” Stuart told News Corp.
“Des and I know what happened and it’s up to others to speculate.” I can’t change that.
“Look, we were just two men who took care of our own football teams and that’s it.
“I’ve known Des for a long time. It’s over between us and we’re moving on.
Hasler joked Friday that his disagreement with Stuart was “the biggest issue ever, we confronted them (reporters) on a break.”
