Beleaguered NSW Origin coach, Ricky Stuart, has today stepped down from his position by way of his Sunday sports column in The Sunday Telegraph.
In what he’s dubbed ‘a painful call’, Stuart confirmed he wouldn’t be seeking reappointment for the 2013 Origin series and will instead focus on his club duties with Parramatta:
“The deliberation about can I or can’t I, the speculation that ‘he shouldn’t be allowed to do both the New South Wales job and the Parramatta job’, has made me do a lot of thinking.
All this swimming (Side note: LOL! Good topical reference, Ricky!) through my head is part of the reason why I am stepping down. As of right now, I am no longer the New South Wales coach. Yes, it is one of the toughest decisions of my coaching career. The past two years have brought some of the greatest moments and fun in my coaching career.
My energy, commitment and drive now is to turn Parramatta around and I promise our fans it will be a great ride. Changing circumstances has made my time come in my second stint at coaching NSW. I hope with all my heart there will be a third. Thank you.”
Stuart’s resignation from coaching the NSW squad comes after Queensland’s seventh consecutive Origin series – and thus the seventh consecutive loss for the Blues, obviously – after QLD clinched a 21:20 victory in this year’s decider. I’d like to think we called it in this year’s State of Origin drinking game (“Take a drink if Ricky Stewart places his head in his hands. One sip for anxiety. Two for disappointment“) but the decision looks to have been a long time coming. Take a drink anyway, Ricky. You probably need it most.
Photo by Cameron Spencer for Getty Images Sport
