Ricky Stuart is spending "every waking moment" trying to deliver the Provan-Summons Trophy to Canberra with the Raiders' return to the finals the catalyst for a new deal.
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Stuart has signed a three-year extension with the Raiders on the eve of the NRL finals which will make him the longest-serving coach in club history.
The Canberra mentor will be at the helm until the end of 2023 and says he would have knocked back any talk of an extension had the Raiders missed the finals for a third successive season.
Alas, the Raiders will return to the finals for the second time in Stuart's six-year tenure when they meet the Melbourne Storm for a top four showdown in Melbourne on Saturday.
The month ahead arguably looms as Canberra's best chance to contend for a premiership since the halcyon days when he was steering the ship at halfback instead of from the sideline.
"My passion and enthusiasm for the club is 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Stuart said.
"I'm like the fan that sits out there and braves the cold, I want to win on the weekend and I want to win a competition as much as they do.
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"I know how much our community and fans want to win a comp. I can assure you every waking moment is about delivering that promise one day.
"I just hope one day it can be this group of people I am working with that does that."
Stuart was off-contract at the end of 2020 but club chairman Allan Hawke says Raiders chiefs were keen to quell uncertainty by diving into talks about a new deal.
The announcement comes as the Raiders edge closer to re-signing English duo Elliott Whitehead and Ryan Sutton on two-year extensions which will keep them in Canberra until the end of 2022.
The Raiders have already retained the services of fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and international forward Joe Tapine until the end of 2023.
However Canberra are locked in a battle to claim the signature of flying winger Jordan Rapana with an enticing offer to ply his trade in Japanese rugby on the table.
Canberra were hopeful of retaining Rapana, who is the only front-line first grade player coming off contract this year.
That roster stability gives the Raiders a platform to build on their rise.
The fact so many key players have re-signed with the club suggests they have bought into Stuart's vision which boasts "a bright future ahead of us".
"If we had not have developed and found some growth this season as a first grade team and club, I couldn't have accepted the extension," Stuart said.
"I'm making sure we do everything we can do to make sure we keep striving towards excellence and one day win a premiership, that's everyone's goal."
Stuart has declared "I don't want to coach any other club" as he sets his sights on taking the Raiders back to the promised land.
It starts with one of the biggest tests of his coaching career when the Raiders look to win hosting rights to a preliminary final in a battle against Melbourne this week.
Canberra burned the fortress to the ground just weeks ago but Stuart says the Raiders will need to be far better this time around - because simply relying on their ability to pull off another Melbourne miracle would be a huge mistake.
"They'll be so much better. Melbourne don't like to be beaten once let alone twice," Stuart said.
"I can already imagine and visualise exactly what Craig Bellamy's preparation would be all about.
"We've got one hell of a game on our hands going to Melbourne in Melbourne. There's no greater challenge in the game.
"Now a new competition starts again. Everything we have done before today is out the window and we start all over again."
NRL QUALIFYING FINAL
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 5.40pm.