NRL 2024 scouting report: Canberra Raiders spine problems, Jack Wighton exit, rookie star power
Jack Wighton’s move to South Sydney and Jarrod Croker’s retirement left a giant hole in Canberra’s roster. PAUL CRAWLEY explains why Ricky Stuart didn’t chase marquee replacements.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It would be easy to write off 2024 as the start of a transition period for the Raiders, who have one eye on the future as they begin life without Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker.
Canberra opted against trying to recruit experienced, but potentially overpriced replacements, and instead invested in youth.
But that doesn’t mean coach Ricky Stuart will be content with making up the numbers, instead relying on the club’s burgeoning junior products to step up and fuel the Green Machine to once again defy the critics.
2023 Rich 100 reps: Jack Wighton (11, $1.05m), Joe Tapine (19, $950,000), Josh Papali’i (33, $800,000), Nick Cotric (67, $660,000), Jarrod Croker (72, $650,000), Elliott Whitehead (75, $650,000)
FREE AGENCY WRAP AND RATING
The Raiders made a calculated gamble not going hard to recruit an experienced but potentially overpriced replacement for Jack Wighton, instead investing in youth.
That will allow former Sea Eagle rookie Kaeo Weekes (12 NRL games) to step up with young gun Ethan Strange (1 NRL appearance) his main competition for the No 6 jersey.
Englishman Morgan Smithies, who boasts 100-plus games for Wigan, arrives with a solid resume, but will have a tough job pushing his way into what is a very strong pack.
RATING: C-
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING: RICKY STUART (2025)
Arguably the NRL’s most polarising coach, Stuart didn’t get near the credit he deserved for what was a huge effort in 2023 by simply getting a Raiders squad, lacking star power, into the top eight ahead of the Rabbitohs, Eels, Cowboys and Sea Eagles, who all missed the playoffs.
He still has two years to run on his deal and is under no internal pressure other than what he places on himself.
The club knows patience is needed to allow some of the hot talent the time to develop as the Raiders transition from the loss of Wighton and retirement of Jarrod Croker, while Elliott Whitehead and Jordan Rapana are likely coming into their final seasons.
SAFETY RATING: A
LIKELY DEBUTANTS
Ethan Strange:Expect to see a lot more from the talented five-eighth/centre. Player of the match after scoring a hat-trick for NSW under-19s, and will bounce back from what was a tough top-grade initiation in the 48-2 round 24 thumping by the Melbourne Storm. He should develop into a long-term NRL player.
Chevy Stewart: Another boom youngster but 2024 may be a year too soon for the teenage fullback, who is blessed with speed and skill. The big question is whether Stewart is physically ready to consistently challenge Seb Kris, Jordan Rapana and Xavier Savage for the Raiders’ No.1 jersey.
Hohepa Puru: Hasn’t had a lot of hype but keep an eye out for the former Panther, who is a fitness machine. His two NRL appearances included an unlucky exit in the finals loss to Newcastle, where he suffered a bad head knock early in the game after colliding with Jacob Saifiti.
Utoloa Asomua: A Brian To’o-style winger, Canberra’s NSW Cup player of the year is on a development deal, but could be challenging for a wing spot at some stage next season.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Xavier Savage and Matt Timoko
The Raiders struggle to score points and could do with an injection of speed in the backs. This is why they need Savage to rebound from his disappointing season, where the flying fullback only made one NRL appearance after 19 games in 2022. If Savage can deliver on his enormous potential it could add another dimension to the Raiders’ attack.
Timoko has that X-factor quality and now has a real opportunity to cement his place as one of the game’s best strike centres, on the back of a strong performance in the Kiwis’ Pacific Championships victory over the Kangaroos. But he needs to be at his best week in, week out, and go hunting more opportunity, instead of waiting for it to come to him.
BURNING ISSUES
1. Do they have the spine to compete with the top teams?
Put the likely spine of Zac Woolford/Danny Levi, Jamal Fogarty, Kaeo Weekes and Xavier Savage/Seb Kris up against the top clubs and it puts in perspective the challenge they face maintaining a place in the top eight.
2. Can the Raiders cover the loss of a player as important as Wighton?
Even though Wighton was below his best in 2023, he leaves huge boots to fill and it would be unfair to place all the pressure on new recruit Kaeo Weekes. That’s where Jamal Fogarty has to own this team. Not only on a week-to-week basis, but especially in the big games after the No.7 was heavily criticised for not delivering in the extra-time finals loss to the Knights.
3. Will the Raiders land Eels hot shot Ethan Sanders?
The change to NRL guidelines that now prevents rookie players coming off contract from entering into negotiations until round six of the new season has delayed a potential shootout for the services of young Parramatta playmaker Ethan Sanders. He is stuck behind Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, but is a player with tremendous potential who the Raiders are expected to go hard for when he is free to negotiate.
CRYSTAL BALL
Overachieved making the finals in 2023, but it will be a bigger challenge backing that up given the lack of experience in the key spine positions, especially on the back of Wighton’s exit. Wouldn’t surprise to see them finish anywhere between sixth and 12th, depending on injuries. Do have a strong forward pack led by Joe Tapine, Josh Papali’i, Corey Horsburgh and Hudson Young, while Corey Harawira-Naera’s playing future remains in doubt due to his health issues.
FINISH THE PAST FIVE YEARS
2023: 8th (eliminated in first week of finals)
2022: 8th (eliminated in second week of finals)
2021: 10th
2020: 5th (eliminated in third week of finals)
2019: 4th (runners-up)
2024 TAB ODDS
Premiership: $51
Minor premiership: $81
Top four: $10
Top eight: $4.50
To miss the top eight: $1.16
To miss the top four: $1.02
Most losses: $6.50
Future NRL stars dazzle in Australian Schoolboys domination
A Greg Inglis clone who needs to ‘work out the talent he’s got’ and a Dragons wrecking ball were at the fore of the Australian Schoolboys 50-point demolition job. Discover every standout performer.
Panthers slammed over ‘pathetic’ move
The Penrith Panthers are the all-conquering NRL champions but the club has abandoned their bid to claim the one trophy that’s eluded them.