The two-week deal: Inside how and why the Raiders re-signed Ricky

This is the story of how the Raiders quickly, and quietly, did the deal to re-sign their coach at the same time as the NRL world is melting with contract controversy and coaching movement.

Stuart still has 18 months remaining on his contract, which was signed in mid 2022, but Richardson was satisfied the premiership winning halfback was "simply the best" man to do the job.

Stuart said he was "overwhelmed" when the Raiders tabled a four-year extension to him a fortnight ago before agreeing to terms on Wednesday morning.

"There was no decision to make," an emotional Stuart said on Wednesday. "I was overwhelmed in regards to the meeting. I went away and spoke to my wife, the kids ... I was just overwhelmed with the fact I've got the trust and support [of the board]."

Richardson has opened up about the key questions about the decision to reappoint Stuart and the future plans.

The NRL coaching carousel isn't in full swing yet, despite drama surrounding Wayne Bennett's impending move to South Sydney.

Stuart's existing contract runs through to the end of 2025. But rather than waiting until the end of this season or the start of next year to assess results, the board determined Stuart was the man they wanted to keep. So why jump now?

"Continuity and certainty was the way to go at this point," Richardson said.

"We've had Ethan Strange re-sign through to 2028 and Chevy Stewart through to 2027 and we thought this was a good time to strike with Ricky.

"It wasn't a pre-determined plan. When I started to see these younger players sign up, I wondered about Ricky and thought why not extend? Why not create the certainty? It was simply a good fit."

Stuart has led the Raiders to their most successful period in more than 20 years, guiding the Green Machine into the finals in four of the past five seasons.

They made the grand final in 2019 - the first time in the decider since 1994 - and he has taken the club into two other preliminary finals in his 10 years.

"I think he's in the top echelon of coaches in the NRL," Richardson said.

"He represents the values and principles the club holds dear. He's loyal and passionate about Canberra and the region. He's part of the fabric of this region.

"If you've got all that ... it would be odd if you didn't want to keep the guy."

Stuart is already the longest-serving coach in Raiders history and is just the fifth coach in rugby league to reach 500 games as a first-grade mentor.

"I think when you can have long-term coaches, it's an advantage. You see it in the English Premier League, the NFL, the AFL, with Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett," Richardson said.

"Ricky takes nothing for granted. Ricky is desperate to win a premiership for this club.

"The fact we've extended his contract by four years will in no way lead to complacency. In fact, he will double down and work harder if he can."

Many expected the Raiders to endure a rebuilding phase for at least this season after losing Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker, among others, at the end of last year.

Jordan Rapana, Elliott Whitehead and Josh Papalii are also closer to the end of their careers than they are the start.

There were certainly signs of the rebuild in big losses to Brisbane and Cronulla, but a win against Manly has given the club and its fans new confidence. They are seventh on the ladder after nine games.

"There's no reason why this club can't be a powerhouse, if you want to use that word," Richardson said.

"Our facilities are equal to any, our supporters are passionate and equal or better than any in the comp and we have an excellent playing group.

"You won't find, for want of a better word, a dickhead in our playing group. They are good people.

"Quite frankly, character is as important as skill. You need that to realise your potential, and that's what we have and why we are confident in the direction we're heading."

Ricky Stuart is poised to lead the Canberra Raiders into a remarkable 16^th season after the club offered him a deal to stay in the job until at least the end of 2029.

In a massive surprise on the eve of the club's 30-year premiership reunion, it can be revealed Stuart has all but agreed to terms on a four-year extension to his existing contract.

Stuart, already the longest-serving coach in Raiders history, had 18 months to run on his contract after re-signing in mid 2022.

But unwilling to wait until closer to its 2025 expiration, the Raiders board has been discussing Stuart's future for some time and decided now was the right time to table a four-year extension.

The Canberra Times believes the deal could be announced as early as Wednesday as the Stuart prepares to meet with his former teammates to celebrate 30 years since the Green Machine's 1994 premiership.

To put Stuart's deal - which is effectively now five and a half years - in context, only two coaches in Raiders history (Tim Sheens and Don Furner Snr) have served more than five years for their entire tenure.

Stuart returned to the Raiders for the 2014 season and led the club to its first grand final in 25 years in 2019. The Raiders have made the finals in four of the past seasons - the club's best run since the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Raiders chairman Dennis Richardson confirmed the club had launched extension talks with Stuart and the deal was "expected to be completed very soon."

"The club is in the process of a very significant transition," Richardson said.

"We're one of the youngest squads in the NRL. We have some great talent coming through and Ricky has been a big part of the identification of that talent.

"He's very much a part of Canberra and he's very passionate about the region. We feel very confident about the next few years with the mix of experience and younger players we have coming through."

Richardson said the club wouldn't waste its time on a succession plan given Stuart is just 57 years old. Other clubs, including South Sydney and the Dolphins, have opted to plan for younger coaches to take over from Wayne Bennett only to end up with egg on their faces.

"You don't look at succession plans four years out and those clubs who do normally fall on their face," Richardson said.

Stuart, a three-time premiership winning halfback for Canberra, has also coached the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks and Parramatta Eels. He became just the fifth coach in rugby league history to reach the 500 first-grade games milestone last month.

He has been credited with reviving passion in the Raiders since returning a decade ago, and he declared two years ago he had "no interest in coaching anywhere else ... I started at the Raiders as a player and I'll finish here as a coach".

Now Richardson and the board are hoping he can lift the club back to premiership glory, backing him to usher in new stars after the departure of Jarrod Croker (retired) and Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs) at the end of last year. Elliott Whitehead could leave at the end of this season, and Jordan Rapana is also considering his playing options.

The Raiders have turned to youth, with Ethan Strange taking Wighton's five-eighth role and Chevy Stewart getting his chance while Rapana was injured this year.

The Raiders shocked even their most loyal fans with a fast start to the season before struggling against the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks.

But a win against Manly has put them back on track and they will go into their clash against the Bulldogs as favourites on Friday night.

Rapana will return this week and Corey Horsburgh is nearing his comeback from a groin injury to add depth and experience, but Zac Hosking and Jamal Fogarty are still months away.