Ricky Stuart has broken his silence on why he said no to the New South Wales top job, saying he wants to focus on his club side Canberra Raiders as they brace for a potentially tumultuous period.

Citing the impending loss of several hundred games worth of experience, Stuart says he wants to make sure Canberra gets its transition period right towards a younger side in 2024 – but still says he loves the Blues.

“Wasn’t a matter of knocking back the job […] I’ve got to make Canberra Raiders and those young boys there my priority, I love the Blues but my priority is the Raiders,” he told Spiro Christopoulos on Wide World of Sports

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