Defending the Remarks: Brad Fittler Stands by Ricky Stuart Amidst Intense Criticism over Kyle Flanagan Comments

Brad Fittler has come to the defence of Ricky Stuart following his fervent backing of Kyle Flanagan after the Raiders’ victory over the Dragons.

Flanagan has faced significant criticism during a challenging season with St George Illawarra, and there have been calls for his removal from the team.

The 26-year-old was met with boos as he prepared to take a kick at goal against the Raiders.

After the match, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was questioned about the booing and mentioned he hadn’t noticed it, adding that similar reactions occur whenever a goalkicker lines up for a shot.

When Stuart held his press conference, he revisited the topic, labelling the criticism directed at Kyle as a “disgrace”.

“I’ve got a son (Jed) playing, and that’s my biggest worry, not for him but for the media … it would be torturous for his (Kyle’s) mother,” he expressed.

Stuart also mentioned that goalkickers are often booed and encouraged the fans to continue doing so.

During an appearance on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Fittler remarked that bringing up the booing was “unnecessary”.

“He made a valid point. Why raise the issue? It was not needed,” he remarked.

“… It wasn’t really about the booing, but rather about giving people a platform to take the conversation onto social media … it had nothing to do with the booing.”

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Cameron Smith shared insights on the challenges of coaching one’s own son, saying it “can be brutal at times”.

“They can target individuals for various reasons and go after them, which is unpleasant. I also agree with him that all goalkickers will face booing,” he said.

Andrew Johns also threw his support behind Kyle, who managed to score against the Raiders.

“Kyle’s not going to be a superstar; he’s never going to be another Nathan Cleary or Isaiya Katoa,” he explained.

“He’s a dependable halfback, good at directing his team, competitive, tough, and defensively solid. I can only imagine the backlash he faces on social media. The father-son dynamic of coaching must be particularly challenging.”