It's a reminder of where he started, but every time Stuart makes his way to Campese Field it's about something far more special.

A couple of hours before Stuart's Canberra Raiders face the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, his eyes will be locked on Queanbeyan.

Because there his sons will line up for the Whites - Jackson Stuart at inside centre, and Jed Stuart at flanker - in a John I Dent Cup clash against Canberra Royals.

"Honestly, when I see them run out and play, it's a really nice emotion. I must say the spine tingles," the Raiders mentor said.

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"I'm a pretty emotional bloke, so those types of things mean a lot to me.

"Both Kaylie and I take great pride in seeing them run out together and playing at my old club. They both came through St Edmund's College and now into the Queanbeyan Whites.

"The three of us have followed the same path at school and post-school. It's really enjoyable to watch."

You naturally wonder if the old man ever recounts the glory days, from a Wallabies tour of Argentina to three premierships, State of Origin series wins and match-winning heroics for the Kangaroos.

"I never talk about the bad games," Ricky grinned.

Although 21-year-old Jackson says stories of his father's playing days are few and far between.

Ask about Ricky's time at the Whites and you're more likely to hear about the hours he spent knocking back stubbies with the teammates he still counts among his closest mates today.

"He keeps it pretty humble. He's always telling us he used to drop the big front-rowers and that, but I don't know if I can believe him," Jackson said.

But when it comes to his 20-year-old brother Jed, he sees it every Saturday afternoon.

"He has turned into a bit of a freak on the field, he's been carving up and dropping people bigger than him," Jackson said.

"He brings an energy and he is a real competitive player. He has earned his spot this year in the team and it has been unreal playing with him.

"He's been playing really good footy and it's good playing alongside him. But if I see him miss a tackle, I might have to give him a crack."

Ask Jed if that little clip over the ears is ever necessary and he jokes his brother best stay in his own lane.

"I think he knows I'm better than him. To start with him is pretty special, and to outshine him is even better," Jed laughed.

"This year we've had a couple [of run-ins], he's been telling me things to do and I've just been telling him to back out of it because he's a back and he doesn't know what he is talking about."

But if you dig beyond the cheeky jabs at each other, you start to get an indication of what the humble rugby club based at Campese Field means to the Stuart family.

Jackson has filled a raft of roles in the Whites back line throughout the opening half of the competition but his football ambitions could so easily have kept him in the 13-man code.

He had emerged as a player to watch in the Raiders pathway - although Ricky jokes his eldest son didn't like the first grade coach at the club - and today there are few places he would rather be than with some of his best mates in a Whites jersey.

"That's what has kept me at the club, the mates I've got there and the community they've got going on there," Jackson said.

"Everyone is mates, you get along with everyone, everyone is really welcoming. I was going to be playing league up until COVID hit.

"I made the move back to the Whites and I didn't want to leave the club after the year I had there last year. I just really enjoyed it.

"It's pretty awesome playing there. There's lots of people around that have been at the club since [dad] was playing, and it's cool we're there now at the club he was playing at."

Jed has followed a similar path, balancing both codes until college when he shifted from the wing into the forward pack.

Why he was ever on the wing, he's not quite sure, because "I was never quick". But a move into the pack has been a masterstroke for the younger brother who towers over the rest of the family.

Jed admits the lure of a rugby league return is strong, but that can wait.

"I'd love to one day, but the Queanbeyan Whites are just too good of a club to go back," Jackson said.

"That's the reason why we're there. Dad was there, dad's mates were there. Even at Eddies, there's a reason we were at Eddies.

"Dad went there and loved it, and now we have really good mates from that school and all of those boys are at Whites now.

"It's a special thing, making mates [through football], and that happens at Whites."

JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 10

Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park, 3.05pm; Uni-Norths Owls v Wests Lions at ANU North Oval, 3.05pm; Queanbeyan Whites v Canberra Royals at Campese Field, 3.05pm.

ACT Women Premier XVs: Tuggeranong Vikings v Goulburn at Viking Park, 1.40pm; Queanbeyan Whites v Canberra Royals at Campese Field, 4.45pm.

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