Ricky Stuart’s Candid Remarks as Manly Pursues Halfback Jamal Fogarty

Ricky Stuart has opened up about his discussions with Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty as speculation regarding his contract continues to swirl in rugby league circles.

This week, Fogarty was rumoured to be a target for the Sea Eagles, with the club searching for a replacement for the departing Daly Cherry-Evans in 2026 and beyond.

While Canberra holds an option for Fogarty’s contract for the upcoming year that can be activated by round six, the 31-year-old has yet to sign an extension.

Raiders officials are expected to engage with Fogarty’s management in the next two weeks, but Stuart acknowledged that a more attractive offer might already be available from Manly.

“I caught up with Jamal this week; we haven’t been paying much attention to the media as we needed to focus on preparing for a match,” he told Fox League on Saturday.

“To address your question, I essentially said, ‘If there’s a substantial offer out there that benefits Kahlia [his wife] and the girls, seize that opportunity, but I’d prefer you to remain with us’. I’m not really aware of where things stand with Manly right now.

“But honestly, I’m not overly worried. My focus is on winning football matches.”

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Later that day, Canberra fell short against North Queensland, who secured their first victory of the season shortly after Stuart’s remarks.

Andrew Johns has publicly supported Manly’s pursuit of Fogarty, who could potentially command nearly $1 million per season if he enters the open market.

As of now, the Sea Eagles have yet to officially confirm their interest in the talented playmaker.