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The Ricky Stuart vs Phil Gould brouhaha has been rugby league's worst kept secret for the past six years.

It started when Ricky was at the Roosters and Gus was over the top of him as coaching director. That was in 2002, the year the Roosters won the comp.

After collecting a grand final ring, Ricky was convinced he didn't need Gus anymore, so started manoeuvreing to try and get rid of him.

The move failed when the Roosters lost the 2003 grand final to Penrith. Gus took a back seat after that, but his battle with Ricky continued.

Privately, Gus has always had the ear of Roosters boss Nick Politis. Gus got the opportunity to really start sticking the knife in when the Roosters lost the 2004 grand final and Brad Fittler retired.

After that, results went downhill, the team were playing dreadfully and there were clearly problems. So Gus started a campaign to get Stuart sacked early on in 2005, pushing for Freddy to immediately be appointed. Problem was, at that stage, Freddy didn't want the top job. So the Roosters bosses had to holster their guns.

But it didn't take long and they secretly did a deal to get Wayne Bennett to the club, unbeknown to Stuart. They then eventually sacked Ricky, which is when he signed with the Sharks.

So the feud between Ricky and Gus is not new. They've had a strong dislike for one another for around five years now. Ah, you've got to love it.

Feuds and rivalries are what rugby league thrives on. For mine, Ricky and Gus are both outstanding coaches. I'd love to see the two get the opportunity to go head to head in the coaching box. In my opinion, Gus would prevail.

WE'VE heard new Broncos coach Ivan Henjak has a few skeletons in his closet. Apparently, Henjak had a real bug for the horses a few years back.

The Broncos were aware of the problem and I've heard they forced Henjak to deal with it some time ago. The operation was a supposedly a success, which is good news for everyone.

We're tipping Henjak to do big things with the Brisbane side next season, provided Wayne Bennett doesn't take too many superstars with him to St George Illawarra.

THERE is a major push on behind-the-scenes to get Canberra's Joel Monaghan and Wests Tigers' Chris Heighington into the NSW Origin team announced next Monday. Monaghan is an outside chance for a wing spot, maybe left centre, because of his height under the high ball.

Heighington would be up for the occassion, but the amount of quality backrowers is out of control. The Tigers forward may sneak onto the bench after a big showing in the City Country draw last Friday.

SOUTH Sydney boss Peter Holmes a Court is on the nose big time with the Bunnies players. While the boys all love Rusty Crowe, they find Holmes a Court false.

My mail is the players are dark about his constant penchant for having a video camera follow his every move, along with persistent leaks to the media. The drum is Rusty's cool, Holmes a Court's a pelican.
Tue 06/05/2008 The Prowler 64 views

1 Comments about this article

  • A mentor-protégé relationship that has gone from bad to worse. Stuart is so driven by the goal in front of him that he causes carnage all around him. Does he make players mentally stronger in the process? He seems to have broken players and only time will judge what they do in and out of football.

    It will be close between Anthony Quinn and Joel Monaghan. Personally, I would like to see Amos Roberts playing outside Mark Gasnier for NSW but I think his fate will be similar to Nathan Blacklock.

    Posted by Aaa Mmm Fri May 09, 2008 01:37pm AEST

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