League: Stuart relishes 'monumental' Origin task

Ricky Stuart. Photo / Getty Images

Back as coach, Ricky Stuart says he faces a "monumental task" to restore New South Wales State of Origin league fortunes after five successive series losses to Queensland.

Stuart, who was the last New South Wales coach to win an Origin series back in 2005, was appointed yesterday to return for a two-year term.

He becomes the first fulltime coach of the Blues and, according to New South Wales Rugby League chairman Colin Love, "the face of the game in NSW".

Stuart said he felt refreshed and excited to return to coaching following a three-month break after quitting his NRL coaching job with struggling Cronulla.

He was under no illusions about the difficulty of overcoming the star-studded and settled Queensland team coached by his former Canberra and Kangaroos teammate Mal Meninga.

"It's going to be a huge challenge," Stuart said. "Coming in on the back of five series defeats is going to be a monumental task, but one that I am excited about."

He believed NSW possessed a good pool of developing young players who could ultimately end the embarrassing run of Origin series losses.

He said his first task would be to appoint an adviser.

Stuart said he would continue to lean on the knowledge of other senior league figures, including renowned former coaches Phil Gould and Bob Fulton.

Former Sydney Roosters premiership coach Stuart admitted he would one day like to return to an NRL coaching job.

He was reluctant to outline any get-out clauses in his NSW contract, saying only that it included "terms and guidelines". But he suggested it was unlikely he would ever juggle club and representative coaching jobs.

"I think it's pretty clear to see now that Origin football is going in a direction where they need a fulltime coach."

Stuart said he had learned from the "monumental, huge mistake" that led up to his standing down as Australian team coach almost two years ago.

He stood down after being investigated over allegations of an abusive outburst at referee Ashley Klein and match officials director Stuart Cummings in a Brisbane hotel lobby the day after Australia's 2008 World Cup final loss to New Zealand.

"I've learned by that," he said, "but I must say I really missed rep football and I'm really excited to be back involved with representative teams and representative players."

- AAP