Canberra Raiders confident of victory despite ‘frustrating’ instability in halves

The Canberra Raiders will be without Jack Wighton this weekend but they’re confident that won’t affect their chances of victory.

Wighton is one of only three men to have won the Dally M Medal while playing for the Canberra Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

The Canberra Raiders admit they’ve been frustrated by the instability in their spine this season but are confident they can win without Origin star Jack Wighton this Sunday.

Wighton has missed two games through suspension this year but the Raiders won both and presented with a chance to close in on the top eight, the Canberrans are confident they can do the same against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

“We won both weeks when Jack wasn’t there, so it gave us massive confidence that when he’s not there, we can still win,” forward Hudson Young said.

“He’s been one of our best players all year so (replacement Matt Frawley) ‘Frawls’ has got a big job, but he’s more than capable of doing it.”

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Wighton was one of only two players from a bottom-eight side to be selected in the Blues’ 17 for Game One. Picture: Mark Nolan / Getty Images

On Sunday, Frawley will partner Jamal Fogarty to form the fifth unique halves combination used by Canberra coach Ricky Stuart so far this year.

A serious knee injury kept Fogarty sidelined for the first 11 rounds of the year and meant the Raiders’ first-choice halves combination will only have played together once as the season passes its halfway point.

Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead said the instability in the halves was far from ideal.

“It is frustrating,” he admitted.

“You’d like to have (Fogarty and Wighton) playing together week in week out, but the boys who keep coming in, they’ve been doing a great job for us.

“It just shows what depth we have at the club.”

Fogarty played for the Raiders in the NRL trials but only made his regular season club debut last weekend. Picture: Ashley Feder / Getty Images

In his first game back from injury, Fogarty came up with a try assist as the Raiders narrowly lost to the Parramatta Eels.

Whitehead expected the former Gold Coast Titans captain would only continue to improve.

“It didn’t feel like it was his first game,” Whitehead said.

“He was very vocal on the field, which is good as a halfback. His kicking game is good as well. He’s only going to get better.

“Hopefully a few more games under his belt and he’ll be up to speed. Like I said, he didn’t really miss a beat last week.”

Originally published as Canberra Raiders confident of victory despite ‘frustrating’ instability in halves