He's coached Australia, NSW and a Sydney Roosters premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But in Ricky Stuart's 18 years, 14 Tests, nine State of Origins and 391 NRL games in charge this Canberra Raiders team is the closest group he's coached.
That bond was on full display this week when the Green Machine bought England international Elliott Whitehead a new electric scooter for his birthday after he had his previous one stolen in April.
Although, Stuart cheekily stitched up the Raiders' other Englishmen, saying they were the only three not to chip in for Whitehead's present.
But when the laughter subsided, an earnest Stuart said that was just one example of the closeness of the 2019 Raiders.
Another was the way they played for each other when they pulled on the lime green jersey.
"They're a very, very close bunch. These guys are the closest bunch of players I've ever coached," Stuart said.
"The camaraderie and the genuine mateship, the commitment to each other. You see that on the footy field.
"That doesn't just happen on the field. That happens in regards to buying Elliott that bike.
"I don't say it because I want to make people warm and fuzzy. I don't operate that way."
He's rested four of those blokes for their final-round clash against the New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
John Bateman, Jordan Rapana, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Sia Soliola will all have the week off to get over some niggles.
They'll return for the first week of finals, along with centre Joey Leilua (suspension) and potentially forward Joe Tapine (ribs).
Stuart's determined to finish third on the NRL ladder with a win against the Warriors.
South Sydney leapfrogged the Raiders into that spot with their win over the Sydney Roosters on Thursday, giving the Green Machine something to aim for.
"It will be great to come third, but it's not going to be handed to us. We've got a job in front of us," Stuart said.
"We've got a team that's up for it though and it also gives me the opportunity to rest a couple of guys that have got some niggles."
The Raiders are on track for their biggest average home crowds since 1995.
That year they averaged 15,683 through the Canberra Stadium gates, while 24 years later they've drawn 15,495 if you discount their home clash against the Penrith Panthers in Wagga Wagga.
With the Raiders now able to host a preliminary final if they earn the right, Stuart said the Canberra crowd would help drive their finals campaign.
They're all-but-certain of a top-four finish and guaranteed to either host in the second or third week of finals.
"Everyone loves playing at home when you've got a big crowd and they're pumping," Stuart said.
"They certainly help you in certain scenarios of games and you're under fatigue and you need a little bit of a lift.
"We're fortunate in that area. The crowd do generate a great atmosphere here at the game.
"We play for our fans as much as we play for ourselves."
The Raiders have proven themselves to be road warriors this year.
They've won nine of their 12 away games - just the third time they've managed that feat since their inception in 1982.
But they haven't been quite as successful at home, winning six of their 11.
Stuart said he was happy with their record - given it's got them sitting pretty in the top four.
"Whether it's home or away we've just got to play to win. That's the key [on Saturday]," he said.
"It will be nice to be going to the play-offs in some decent form. And we've got that.
"We know what our game's about, we know where we're at with our game and that's a really good thing for the players and it's something that the boys have matured over the past 12 months.
"I feel they've got a lot more clarity about their role and a lot more clarity about our game itself."
NRL ROUND 25
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Canberra Stadium, 3pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
Raiders squad: 1. Bailey Simonsson, 2. Michael Oldfield, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Sebastian Kris, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. JJ Collins. Reserves: 20. Jordan Rapana, 21. Tom Starling.
Warriors squad: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitua, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Blake Ayshford, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Blake Green, 8. Agnatius Paasi, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Isaiah Papalii, 13. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Burr, 15. Bunty Afoa, 16. Ligi Sao, 17. Adam Keighran. Reserves: 18. Josh Curran, 20. Taane Milne.