Calls for Ricky Stuart to be banned for rest of year following 'weak-gutted dog' comments

Ricky Stuart has landed in hot water following disparaging comments made about Penrith's Jaeman Salmon, with calls for the Raiders coach to be banned for the rest of the year.

There have been requests for extreme action to be taken against Stuart after he labelled the Panthers playmaker a ‘weak-gutted dog’ after it appeared the 23-year-old had lashed out Tom Starling with his boot.

At the post-match press conference, he said: “I have had history with that kid (Salmon). I know that kid very well.

“He was a weak gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He is a weak gutted dog person now.”

The feud is believed to date back to when Salmon and Stuart’s son were both playing in the same team in a Cronulla juniors competition. 

Jaeman Salmon’s family have since called for the NRL to take action against Stuart for the sensational comments.

The family said in a statement: "We were surprised by Ricky's claim that he knows Jaeman personally as they have had no contact since Jae was 12 years old.

"We are calling on the NRL to take action as we believe Jaeman has been wronged in this situation.

"We will follow the correct procedures and let the NRL complete a thorough investigation."

Meanwhile, other NRL personalities have called for a lengthy ban from the competition.

Legendary Blues player Mark Geyer believes a precedent to be set, with no other coach yet to cop a suspension for post-match comments in the NRL.

Geyer told Triple M radio: "I don't get Ricky Stuart's side, I really don't. He's a 55-year-old male who's coached over 500 games, he's been in the game for so long. If that was his son how would he feel, if someone said that about his son?

Adding: “If that was my son I would be filthy. I would be knocking on (Stuart's) door the next day, put it that way.

"I think he's got to be suspended. (Salmon) has been defamed. Everyone saw that, all junior league players saw what Ricky Stuart just said about this kid."

Whilst NRL commentator Andrew Voss believes Stuart’s comments deserve more than just a fine from the NRL.

He told SEN 1170: “Can I say for the record, because we do have to take a stand - I believe Ricky Stuart should be suspended for the rest of the year.

 “I think the Raiders should stand him down and say, ‘Ricky, it’s been a long year, I cannot excuse what happened, you can have the rest of the season off’.

“You’ve got to take a stand. It can’t be a fine for this sort of behaviour. It cannot be a fine.

“There may be a fine with it, but it’s got to be something else.”

Stuart has since apologised for his comments, admitting his brutal remarks stemmed from an incident involving his family and Salmon.

The Raiders also released a statement saying they will accept any findings of the NRL and ‘any sanctions they hand down’.