Canberra raid UK Super League for new talent in 2019 NRL season
Canberra’s record in close games has become something of a sick joke over the last few seasons and Ricky Stuart will be hoping his new roster can turn the tide. FULL ROSTER ANALYSIS
Canberra’s record in close games has become something of a sick joke over the last few seasons and Ricky Stuart will be hoping his new roster can turn the tide.
The Raiders have gone back to the Super League well that gave them Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead in an effort to cover for the loss of several key forwards.
Will it be enough for the NRL’s weirdest team to change their ways?
Full squad
Brad Abbey, John Bateman, Luke Bateman, Nick Cotric, Jarrod Croker, Emre Guler, Siliva Havili, Ata Hingano, Josh Hodgson, Corey Horsburgh, Royce Hunt, Liam Knight, Sebastian Kris, Joey Leilua, Dunamis Lui, Jack Murchie, Michael Oldfield, Josh Papalii, Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer, Sia Soliola, Ryan Sutton, Joe Tapine, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton, Sam Williams, Hudson Young.
Forwards
With Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd leaving the Raiders have lost a fair bit of beef up front. For a team that’s operated with giant forwards for many years it’ll be interesting to see how they operate with a more mobile pack.
The backrow of Elliot Whitehead, Joseph Tapine and the reborn Josh Papalii is one of the best in the competition and remains one of the team’s greatest strengths.
However, they do lack established support for Papalii in the middle – Sia Soliola remains solid as a rock, Liam Knight is a player of considerable potential, Emre Guler made a great start to his NRL career last season and the incoming Englishmen Ryan Sutton and John Bateman are exciting purchases, but the Green Machine lacks the raw power they’ve boasted in the past.
Backs
The backline is the source of Canberra’s power and should be settled by Round 1. They boast talent and depth in equal measure – the club may possess the best winger and centre duos in the competition with Jarrod Croker and Nick Cotric on the left and the wonder twins, Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana, on the right.
Beyond the starters, Michael Oldfield and Brad Abbey are first grade quality players and at least one of them will see plenty of game time following Rapana’s knee injury.
Spine
Canberra’s halves have come under heavy criticism in recent years due to the club’s awful record in close matches but Aidan Sezer and Sam Williams are better players than most give them credit for.
Sezer re-signed with the club last season and has shown flashes of his best in his three seasons in the capital while also being hamstrung at times by injury, bizarre positional switches and a lack of confidence. The time has come for him to deliver on his prodigious talent.
In Williams he has a capable and smart second fiddle, Josh Hodgson remains one of the best hookers in rugby league and Jack Wighton made some big strides as a fullback before his season-ending suspension.
But it starts and ends with Sezer. The club chose him over Blake Austin and if they’re to make the finals he is the one who must take more control.
Ins: John Bateman (Wigan), Ryan Sutton (Wigan),
Outs: Blake Austin (Warrington), Shannon Boyd (Gold Coast), Charlie Gubb (Widnes), Junior Paulo (Parramatta)
Recruitment strength
After the success Hodgson, Soliola and Whitehead have all enjoyed in Canberra it’s no wonder the club has gone back to the Super League well.
John Bateman has been linked with an NRL move for some time and has been in top form for Wigan and England – the rugged backrower/centre was nominated for the Man of Steel award and has the toughness, skill and smarts to make an immediate impact for the Raiders.
Sutton, a fiery prop forward, can be expected to replace Shannon Boyd in the rotation.
Where they’re lacking
Experience in the forwards and poise in the halves. Bateman and Sutton will be expected to play big roles in the middle straight away and as decorated as they are in England that’s no guarantee of success in Australia.
Guler and Knight are promising but inexperienced and will need to grow up fast.
The Raiders are built from the outside in and are unique in how little they rely on their halves compared to other teams but Sezer and Williams need to gel if the club is to return to finals football.
Best XVII
1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joey Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Aidan Sezer 7. Sam Williams 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Sia Soliola 11. Elliott Whitehead 12. Joseph Tapine 13. John Bateman 14. Siliva Havili 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Emre Guler 17. Dunamis Lui/Liam Knight/Luke Bateman
Originally published as Canberra raid UK Super League for new talent in 2019 NRL season
NRL Off-Season Power Rankings: Scandals, gains and losses, injuries
From off-field scandals and contract showdowns to selection dilemmas and casualty wards - we examine how prepared your club is to tackle the NRL pre-season.
NRL star charged with threatening police
Canberra Raiders veteran player Josh Papalii has been charged over an ugly confrontation with police inside a licensed venue, just weeks before he won a prestigious award.