Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says he doesn't regret sensationally walking out of last weekend's post-game press conference and would do it again because of his frustrations with the standard of refereeing.
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Stuart will meet with NRL referees boss Tony Archer and another referee next week to address his concerns, the Raiders hoping that discussion will prevent them being handed a fine.
Speaking publicly for the first time since Saturday night's 24-12 loss to the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium, Stuart gave an insight into why he decided to leave the post-game press conference after just 25 seconds.
"There are going to be emotions and frustrations, but my reasoning for what I did on the weekend, I'd do it again because there's been a build-up of frustration," Stuart told ABC Radio Canberra on Wednesday morning.
"I've done all the right communications through all the right avenues, processes with Tony Archer, but nothing gets done.
"I thought to myself, 'well, I've been banging my head against a wall for a number of weeks now, nothing seems to get done, why should I be sitting here and talking,' [it's] probably going to be a lot better for my position to not continue.
"You've got to understand that some of us wear our heart on our sleeve.
"You've also got to understand we've just come off ... our jobs depend upon results weekly, not that we don't depend on results over a six-month period, it's something weekly we built towards a bigger result at the end of the year."
The NRL is expected to announce on Wednesday whether it will fine and/or hand a breach notice to Stuart and the Raiders.
"We're hoping not to get one obviously," Raiders chief executive Don Furner said.
"I spoke with (NRL head of football) Todd Greenberg a few days ago.
"I know Rick has had conversations with Tony Archer and my understanding is he and one of his other referees will come down next week and hopefully they'll clear things up that way rather than a fine.
"What was said was said. If there is a fine we might speak about it then, hopefully there's not."
Stuart has been fined $105,000 during his NRL coaching career, which began in 2002, resulting from nine separate incidents.
He was fined $10,000 last year for describing the officiating as "shit", "laughable", "poor" and "not at the standard of first grade" in a loss to Penrith.
Stuart vented his disgust at the refereeing in his brief press conference on Saturday.
"(NRL head of football Todd Greenberg) was at the game tonight and I just really hope he saw what I saw," Stuart said.
"It's a lot healthier for our club if we don't go any further into this press conference. I have respect for all the media, it's got nothing to do with you, but it's just a lot healthier if I don't continue. Thanks."
The Raiders could face a sanction from the NRL for not allowing the media to speak to players after the game.
With Emma Kelly
