NRL 2020: Corey Harawira-Naera named for Raiders to play Cowboys
Corey Harawira-Naera donned the green of the Raiders for the first time at training on Tuesday, now the recruit is set to suit up for his first match on Saturday. See the photos here.
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Corey Harawira-Naera had barely completed his first day in Canberra before the injury-hit Raiders pitched their new signing into the side to play North Queensland on Saturday.
Harawira-Naera trained with his new teammates for the first time on Tuesday morning and was later named on the bench for the Raiders clash with the Cowboys.
Harawira-Naera recently signed with the Raiders until the end of 2022 after he successfully appealed his deregistration following his involvement in the schoolgirl sex scandal in Port Macquarie at the start of the year.
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A trial match that weekend - ironically, against the Raiders - was the last time Harawira-Naera took the field.
The Kiwi Test backrower is in the box seat to replace John Bateman once the Englishman returns to Wigan next year.
The former Bulldog wasn’t the only big inclusion - English star John Bateman has also been named for his first match of the year while centre Curtis Scott will also return after a stint on the sidelines due to infection.
Bateman has been named to start at second row, but could be switched back to the bench later in the week. The 26-year old hasn’t pulled on the green jersey since the 2019 grand final due to a troublesome shoulder injury.
Scott will slot in at right centre after a month out of the starting side - first after he was dropped to the bench, then out of the 17 completely before infection sidelined him for another two weeks.
The reinforcements are sorely needed for the Raiders, who added Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to their bulging injury ward last week.
Nicoll-Klokstad suffered a finger injury that will keep him out for 1-2 weeks. He joins Josh Hodgson, Sia Soliola, Corey Horsburgh, Bailey Simonsson and Emre Guler on the sidelines. Jordan Rapana will slot in at fullback for Nicoll-Klokstad with Fijian rookie Semi Valemei holding his place on the wing.
Former Test prop Jordan McLean will return for the Cowboys, who have lost seven of their last eight and desperately need a win to keep their faint finals hopes alive.
Recruit has to sit out against Bulldogs
– Dean Ritchie
Canberra agreed to terms with Harawira-Naera – but the deal includes him sitting out the round 16 match against Canterbury.
Canterbury hoped to secure a player swap but Canberra’s injury toll prevented the Raiders from offering up a player.
The Raiders then agreed, in an act of goodwill, against selecting Harawira-Naera when playing Canterbury in five weeks’ time.
Canterbury officials attempted to persuade Harawira-Naera into staying but he remained angry at the club terminating his contract after a pre-season incident in Port Macquarie.
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New Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett also tried to talk Harawira-Naera into remaining at Belmore.