NRL 2024: Canberra Raiders target more NSW under-19 stars in roster rebuild

The Raiders already have three members of the NSW under-19s team from last season and they are set to add another three from rival clubs as the Canberra rebuild continues.

Newcastle Knights SG Ball captain Myles Martin. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Canberra’s plan to build their team around youth is set to gather more steam as they lock down a fifth member of the all-conquering NSW 19 side from last year and step up attempts to sign a sixth.

The Raiders, who have surprised many with their strong start to the season, began the weekend in the top eight having unearthed some genuine stars over the opening two months of the year.

Two of them – Ethan Strange and Chevy Stewart – have featured prominently as part of that impressive start to the season.

Prop Jake Clydesdale is expected to follow suit soon enough while the club has already confirmed that Parramatta halfback Ethan Sanders will join them next season.

Dragons' youngster Savelio Tamale. NRL Imagery

That quartet looks set to be joined by Myles Martin and potentially Savelio Tamale next season, meaning Stuart and the Raiders could have six members of the NSW under 19 side that thrashed Queensland at Redcliffe last year.

Martin is currently at Newcastle and was offered a new deal by the Knights but opted to move to the nation’s capital and be part of Stuart’s youthful revolution.

Tamale was a target for Parramatta but their decision to sign Zac Lomax and focus on retaining Blaize Talagi has given Canberra the opportunity to step in and make a play for a centre who has scored seven tries in 10 appearances in the NSW Cup this season.

All seven of those tries have come in the last six games, Tamale timing his run perfectly as he looks to lock up a deal for next season.

The Raiders are leading the race for the teenager, who was also a classy rugby union player as part of the NSW Waratahs academy and will come into contention for a first grade debut following the injury to Dragons centre Jack Bird.

Newcastle Knights SG Ball captain Myles Martin. Picture: Thomas Lisson

The Raiders want Tamale to be part of their resurgence as they bank on youth – and a long-term commitment from coach Ricky Stuart – to supercharge their quest to win another premiership.

Chief executive Don Furner insists the Raiders’ commitment to sign young players has always been a hallmark of the club.

The Raiders can’t always match it with the Sydney clubs when it comes to big signings so they go about their business in a different fashion, combining their own talent with players that are cherrypicked at a young age to complement what they have.

Stuart and the club’s recruitment boss Joel Carbone look to have hit paydirt with their bid to target members of last year’s NSW under 19s if Strange and Stewart are any indication of the quality from that side.

Myles Martin was part of the Blues' u19s State of Origin win last year. Credit: NRL Images.

The Raiders are also in the thick of the hunt for young English forward Matty Nicholson, who is being pursued by a host of NRL clubs and expected to move to Australia next season.

“We have always been a development club,” Furner said.

“We had a 30-year reunion last week where we talked about it – the only player we have ever signed of real note was Mal Meninga.

“Everybody else we have had to develop. That’s what we are forced to do and we think we do it well.

“There are other development clubs in the game like Penrith and we think we are similar to them. Then there are other clubs that buy over the top.”

Martin had a deal on the table to stay in Newcastle but as he hesitated over taking up their offer, Canberra swooped with a longer deal and the carrot of playing with his Blues teammates.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Canberra Raiders target more NSW under-19 stars in roster rebuild