Rugby league great Ricky Stuart AM has been named among the 2025 inductees into the prestigious New South Wales Hall of Champions, recognising his outstanding contribution to the sport both as a player and a coach.
The former NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos halfback will be formally inducted at the NSW Champions of Sport ceremony on Monday, 24 November, at The Star Event Centre in Pyrmont. Stuart will be honoured alongside fellow sporting luminaries Graham Arnold (Football), Mo’onia Gerrard OAM (Netball), Naazmi Johnston (Gymnastics), and adaptive surfing icon Mark “Mono” Stewart. Netball legend Liz Ellis will also be elevated to Legend Status, further highlighting the calibre of the 2025 class.
Stuart’s legacy in rugby league is both rich and multi-dimensional. At club level, he was instrumental in the Canberra Raiders’ golden era, helping the team secure three premierships and earning individual accolades such as the Clive Churchill Medal in 1990 and the Dally M Player of the Year award in 1993.
His impact extended to the representative arena, where he donned the New South Wales jersey 14 times, contributing to four State of Origin series victories. In 2005, Stuart brought his leadership to the coaching ranks, guiding the Blues to a 2-1 Origin series win in his debut year as head coach. On the international stage, he made nine Test appearances for the Kangaroos, playing pivotal roles in two Ashes triumphs and a World Cup title between 1989 and 1992.
Already a member of the National Rugby League Hall of Fame (2018) and the NSWRL The Star Hall of Fame (2022), Stuart’s induction into the NSW Hall of Champions further cements his place among the state’s sporting elite.
He joins an esteemed group of True Blues, including legends such as Steve “Turvey” Mortimer OAM, Brett Kenny, Andrew Johns, and Laurie Daley. The NSWRL congratulates Stuart and the entire 2025 induction class on receiving one of the state’s highest sporting honours.