The 2023 season was the definition of a rollercoaster experience for the Raiders and their followers.
After a sluggish getaway, the Raiders have been the shape staff of the comp through the center a part of the season, reaching as excessive as fourth on the ladder earlier than weakening late to solely simply scrape into the finals.
Even although they have been despised outsiders, Canberra virtually eradicated the red-hot Knights within the fifth v eighth elimination closing, proving they deserved their place within the eight.
Watch each match of The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Live with no advert breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
While a high eight end is nothing to sneeze at, that doesn’t lower the mustard for coach Ricky Stuart, who’s craving for rather more consistency from his facet.
It received’t be straightforward to realize although, with two enormous influences on the membership departing after the 2023 season, leaving a halves dilemma.
Read on for the Canberra Raiders’ State of Play.
2023 FINISH: eighth W13 L11 (eradicated first week of finals)
COACH: Ricky Stuart
Stuart deserves plenty of credit score, having led the Raiders to the finals in 4 of the final 5 years. With the roster Canberra have had in current seasons, it’s honest to say they’ve overachieved over that span.
He may get his staff up for a giant recreation, as showcased by pushing the Knights to further time within the first week of the 2023 finals regardless of subsequent to nobody giving them a hope.
The Ricky-led Raiders additionally boast quite a few enormous scalps towards the Storm in finals and as lately as 2019, performed in a decider.
Stuart is contracted till the top of 2025, so there’s a little bit of stress this season because the Raiders brass received’t lengthen the membership legend if Canberra aren’t critically difficult for a premiership within the subsequent two years.
SQUAD: Albert Hopoate (2025), Ata Mariota (2024), Brad Morkos (2024), Chevy Stewart (2026, MO 2027), Corey Horsburgh (2027), Corey Harawira-Naera (2025, PO 2026), Danny Levi (2025), Elliott Whitehead (2024), Emre Guler (2025), Ethan Strange (2025), Harley Smith-Shields (2024), Hohepa Puru (2024, MO 2025), Hudson Young (2027), Jamal Fogarty (2025, CO 2026), James Schiller (2024), Jordan Rapana (2024), Joseph Tapine (2027, PO 2028), Josh Papali’i (2024, MO 2025), Kaeo Weekes (2025), Matthew Timoko (2025), Morgan Smithies (2026), Nick Cotric (2024), Pasami Saulo (2024), Peter Hola (2024), Sebastian Kris (2027), Simi Sasagi (2025), Tom Starling (2025), Trey Mooney (2024), Xavier Savage (2025), Zac Woolford (2024)
Development gamers: Adrian Trevilyan (2025), Noah Martin (2026), Troy Dargan (2025), Utuloa Asomua (2025), Vena Patuki-Case (2025)
MORE NRL NEWS
PREDICTED LADDER: Souths flop once more; Knights upset order as Bulldogs implode
FULL 2024 NRL DRAW: Every spherical, each recreation and who your staff performs twice
EVERY DRAW RANKED 1-17: Broncos’ dream begin as Souths cop horror run
GRUDGE MATCHES: Biggest 2024 grudge matches revealed in full NRL draw
Deep dive into the 2024 NRL draw | 02:41
PLAYERS IN: Kaeo Weekes (Sea Eagles), Morgan Smithies (Wigan), Simi Sasagi (Knights)
PLAYERS OUT: Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds Rhinos), Jarrod Croker (retired)
Wighton and Croker weren’t getting any youthful, however their departure could be upsetting for Raiders followers contemplating they bled for his or her membership over a mixed 549 video games for the Green Machine.
With Wighton becoming a member of Souths, the Raiders signed gifted Manly utility Kaeo Weekes to assist fill the void at five-eighth.
Weekes isn’t assured of beginning within the halves, however three months out from pre-season video games starting, he seems to be the favorite.
Weekes struggled to make an affect with the Sea Eagles regardless of arriving with a little bit of a rap about him.
He’s solely 21, so there’s loads of time to understand his potential and the Raiders will probably be hoping he does within the nation’s capital.
Smithies is simply the most recent of a swath of UK imports who’ve joined the Raiders over the previous 10 years, with the younger ahead linking up with the Green Machine on a three-year deal.
The 22-year-old is reaching the height of his powers, having represented England for the primary time this 12 months.
MORE NRL NEWS
SPINE RATER: Clock ticking on Kevvie’s $5m X-factors; Benji’s grim Tigers actuality
WHISPERS: Roosters meet with Wallabies star as subsequent cross-code goal revealed
GOAT: How Cleary compares to the sport’s best No.7’s, why he’s main GOAT race
REVEALED: Dogs disaster assembly with undesirable star as Gus fumes over leaked picture
WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE: Dummy-half
The Raiders didn’t get a lot spark from their trio of hookers (Danny Levi, Zac Woolford, Tom Starling) final season, nevertheless in Levi’s defence, he solely performed in 4 first grade video games.
Starling is a livewire off the bench, focusing on drained forwards in the course of the sector to nice impact when he’s in type, nevertheless his type was a bit patchy in 2023.
Levi performed nicely for the Raiders’ NSW Cup staff after getting back from a jaw harm, however will doubtless get his likelihood to begin the season in first grade, like he did in 2023 earlier than the setback early within the 12 months.
That leaves Woolford because the odd man out with it being reported that the Raiders are purchasing the son of membership nice Simon to UK Super League golf equipment.
WHO THEY SHOULD/COULD SIGN: David Fifita
The membership has made no secret about their need to recruit David Fifita, and with The Daily Telegraph reporting the Titans star has a clause in his contract which may see him be part of a rival staff in 2025, Canberra will probably be doing all they’ll to ink the damaging ahead.
The Raiders forwards shares will take successful shortly with second rower Elliott Whitehead set to retire after subsequent season and Josh Papali’i doubtless not too far behind, relying on his type in 2024.
Fifita could be the right addition to a pack who already boasts fellow rep stars Hudson Young, Corey Horsburgh and Joe Tapine.
PLAYER UNDER MOST PRESSURE: Jamal Fogarty
It’s in all probability unfair to put this tag on Fogarty, however for the Raiders to have an opportunity of reaching the grand closing, the halfback must constantly be at his greatest all season.
The Raiders simply don’t possess a heap of star energy within the backline, regardless that Matt Timoko is an rising star, Seb Kris is continually bettering and speedster Xavier Savage has his moments.
Fogarty has accomplished an admirable job since arriving from the Titans in ??, however with a lot uncertainty within the halves now after Wighton’s departure, the veteran half’s kicking recreation and organisational expertise must be close to good.
Canberra are putting plenty of religion within the 29-year-old, as there’s little or no skilled halves depth behind him after the departures of Brad Schneider and Matt Frawley.
YOUNG GUN TO WATCH: Ethan Strange
Versatile 19-year-old who had his first style of NRL motion late within the season, beginning at centre in Canberra’s 48-2 loss to the Storm in Round 24.
While not the perfect debut, Strange didn’t lose any admirers, operating for 64 metres and enjoying above his weight in defence.
Strange’s NRL debut got here a number of weeks after bursting onto the scene for New South Wales at under-19 degree, the place he scored a hat-trick towards Queensland.
He recorded that feat within the centres however may play within the halves, which is the place he performed most of his junior footy. That may imply the presumed starter at five-eighth subsequent season, Kaeo Weekes, will probably be below stress to carry out to maintain his spot.
Stuart is already on the report as saying that Strange will get an opportunity within the halves.
“I’ve got Ethan Strange, who is going to get an opportunity to take over as a No.6,” Stuart informed The Canberra Times.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
