𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐊𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 (𝐀𝐅𝐋). 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲………𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

In a heartfelt and widely‑discussed statement, Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart and his wife Kaylie Stuart have shared personal news that has resonated deeply across the Australian football community and beyond.

The couple thanked supporters for their overwhelming kindness and understanding, and asked for privacy as they navigate their situation — a request met with a wave of empathy from fans, players, and colleagues throughout the sporting world.

Ricky Stuart, 63, is one of Australia’s best‑known rugby league figures, having coached the Canberra Raiders for years and guided them to notable success, including a 2025 NRL Minor Premiership — the club’s first in 35 years.

Though details of their announcement were kept private by the Stuarts in deference to their family’s wishes, the reaction from the Australian football landscape has been overwhelmingly supportive. Peers across the sport have publicly shared messages of encouragement and respect for the couple’s courage in opening up during what many have described as a challenging time.

Ricky Stuart’s connection to community causes and personal advocacy is well documented: he and Kaylie co‑founded the Ricky Stuart Foundation, which raises awareness and support for families affected by autism following their daughter’s diagnosis.

As tributes and positive messages continue to pour in from teammates, rival clubs, and fans alike, many in the AFL and NRL communities have praised the couple for their candour and dignity, emphasising the importance of solidarity and understanding in both sports and life beyond the field.

More updates will likely follow as the situation evolves and as the Raiders prepare for the upcoming season. Fans and media have been reminded by club officials of the Stuarts’ request for privacy as the family focuses on their personal circumstances.