Canberra Raiders coach **Ricky Stuart** recently made what he’s called the **”best decision ever”** when he chose to **rest veteran skipper Jarrod Croker** ahead of his milestone 300th NRL game at home. Despite skepticism, the move paid off with a narrow win, and Stuart hasn’t looked back. ([sportingnews.com][1])
### What Happened:
* Leading 18–0 late in a game against the Wests Tigers, Stuart opted to leave Croker out, aiming to ensure the captain celebrated his 300th appearance in front of a home crowd. ([nrl.com][2])
* When asked post-match whether the team missed Croker’s leadership, Stuart fired back:
> “When did we miss him, mate? … You reckon Jarrod would have stopped those three \[tries]?” ([sportingnews.com][1])
* He defended his gamble, dismissing critics as “muppets” who only talk leadership knowing the textbooks. Stuart emphasized, “When you lose, you’ve got to take a risk”—that’s what real leadership demands. ([nrl.com][2])
### Why It’s a Great Call:
1. **Honoured a club legend** by preserving a special milestone under perfect conditions.
2. **Kept the playing group fresh and motivated**, showing Stuart trusts his full squad.
3. **Reaffirmed his coaching philosophy**: bold, courageous decisions, rather than textbook conservatism.
Stuart later reflected that saving Croker for his home celebration was “the right thing by all our Canberra fans” ([news.com.au][3], [nrl.com][2], [reddit.com][4]). It’s rare to see such a high-stakes decision made with confidence—and even more uncommon for the coach to back it up so unapologetically. At just around 200 words, this episode captures Stuart’s fearless leadership approach in full stride.
