Don Furner says Raiders’ salary cap drama has been resolved

THERE were fears Canberra would have to shed a number of big-name stars, with Joey Leilua and Aidan Sezer in the firing line to depart.

Joseph Leilua was in the firing line to depart Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

CANBERRA CEO Don Furner says the club’s salary cap drama has been resolved and the Raiders won’t have to part ways with more players.

There were fears the Green Machine would have to shed a number of big-name stars to be under the cap this year.

Samoan international Joey Leilua and half Aidan Sezer were in the firing line to depart to create space.

But Furner said the Raiders were cap compliant after releasing Papua New Guinea international Kurt Baptiste (Leigh and the Roosters) and Clay Priest (Canterbury).

Joseph Leilua was in the firing line to depart Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

He said the Raiders had approximately $70,000 up their sleeve for a second-tier contract, but would most likely wait to go to the open market.

The Raiders also have a cast of big names off contract this season, including Blake Austin, Josh Papalii and Sezer.

“We’re fine,” Furner said in regards to the Raiders’ salary cap.

Aidan Sezer is one of several Raiders stars off-contract.

“We just can’t afford anyone, unless it is for $70,000.

“We’ve let go of a few players like Baptise and Priest (Canterbury) and we’ve only replaced them with (Siliva) Havilii.

“We were about $200,000 over the salary cap. I budgeted on $9.5 million or a $9.8 million salary cap, but it only came in at about $9.2 million.”

Originally published as Don Furner says Raiders’ salary cap drama has been resolved