Two-time Clive Churchill medalist Bradley Clyde may no longer be directly involved in rugby league.
But as the Canberra Raiders chase their first premiership in 31 years, the proud member of the 1994 Green Machine has spoken about his excitement for his old club and especially former teammate, Ricky Stuart.
Whereas the 1994 Raiders were overflowing with Origin and international stars, the current squad is very different, yet still successful, something Clyde attributes to the patience and faith shown by Stuart since linking with Canberra in 2014.
“It culminates with the success this year, but it starts a long time before that,” Clyde told host Steve Gillis on the Chiming In podcast ahead of week one of the NRL finals.
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“Ricky has shown some real faith in these young guys and they’re rewarding him for that faith, they’ve obviously got talent and deservedly sit on top of the ladder,” he continued.
‘Ricky would narrate the whole game’
Clyde isn’t the slightest bit surprised mind you, for even back in his playing days he says he knew Stuart was destined to be successful as an NRL coach.
“He was always going to be a coach, he genuinely loves the game, studies it and understands it,” Clyde said.
“When I was playing, Ricky would narrate the whole game and provide direction for the team—what that brings is so valuable that I place him as one of the best players I ever played with along with Laurie (Daley).
“That knowledge, he’s now transferred into his coaching, there was no time Ricky wasn’t going to be a coach.”
‘Tim Sheens, he really lit us up’
In addition to Stuart, many more of the modern game’s most successful coaches have all come through the Raiders’ system from the 1990s including Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Mal Meninga, Michael Maguire, Kevin Walters and Laurie Daley .
“I put it down as testimony to (former Raiders coach) Tim Sheens, he really lit us up,” Clyde reflected when asked why the club has produced so many top-level mentors.
“Tim was often innovating and the whole time we were learning, he just added that imagination and excitement to everything we did.
“I still talk to him today and walk away having learned something new about our game.”