Toughest preseason ever 2020

[edwahu]

Roosters and Eels rate first and second.

Defense not a criterion I assume.

[greeneyed]

NRL power rankings: Paul Crawley assesses each club’s forward pack

2nd CANBERRA RAIDERS

8 Josh Papalii
9 Josh Hodgson
10 Sia Soliola
11 Elliott Whitehead
12 John Bateman
13 Joe Tapine

CRAWLEY SAYS: Two years ago, Papalii looked to be on his last chance at the Raiders. While there was never a question about his talent or toughness, there was concern about his motivation. But the change in Papalii last year typified an attitude adjustment that swept through the club. It helped having Hodgson fit for the entire season, while Bateman exceeded everyone’s expectations.

The trick for Ricky Stuart now is making sure the Raiders don’t slip back into bad habits, like they did after finishing second in 2016. You can’t imagine that will happen with the Pommy connection of Hodgson, Bateman and the underrated Whitehead driving a forward pack that looks ready for another shot at the title.

Read more: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 3edc5eddb4

[greeneyed]

Roosters ranked first, Storm third.

[BadnMean]

Our pack will rely a lot on a few uncertainties.

Can Sia keep defying age?

Horsburg back it up and keep developing now he is known or 2nd year syndrome?

Guler ready for a full season and constant NRL level?

Luis poor form at back end of 2019 terminal or can be get back to steady contribution?

Is Sutton going to make it?



I expect Horsburg to be by and large pretty good. He's young so I don't expect miracles every week but if his effort doesn't drop, he'll be fine.

We really need Guler's size in some games imo. Really hoping he develops and keeps making an impact.

We'll get some value out of Sia I am sure. More curious than concerned about Luis/Sutton- I think Guler and Hors can be better than both. There's enough experience in Hodgo and our back row to get Hors and Guler through now.

[Seiffert82]

I suspect they will manage Soliola's minutes even more tightly next season and Horsburg will be in the starting lineup by season's end (if not Rd1).

That gives us Soliola's experience off the bench and the other bench spot(s) to be fought out between Guler, Sutton and Lui.

[greeneyed]

I'm not too worried about Sia playing on. He wouldn't be playing if he and the club didn't think he'd be at his best. I'm expecting Horsburgh and Guler will improve further... they are going to be top line forwards IMO. I'm also expecting Sutton and Young to push hard to get back into the team and that's a plus as well. While he works very hard, not sure if Lui will be able to resist the young guns and keep his place in the team by season's end.

[greeneyed]

Sun shining on the Canberra Raiders

The Raiders flew to out of a smoky Canberra on Thursday, heading to the Sunshine Coast for a 10 day camp. The team flew into Brisbane today and traveled by bus to the "north coast". Some stayed behind - Luke Bateman (knee) and Joey Leilua, who was given extra time off for his wedding in Samoa and has stayed back to get extra load in his legs.

"We worked inside at the AIS [on Wednesday] and did some football drills, but we need to be outside training on the field," coach Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times, with the smoke too hazardous for any activity outside in Canberra.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

[greeneyed]

Well that explains where Joey is!

[sprintman]

Sun shining on the Canberra Raiders

The Raiders flew to out of a smoky Canberra on Thursday, heading to the Sunshine Coast for a 10 day camp. The team flew into Brisbane today and traveled by bus to the "north coast". Some stayed behind - Luke Bateman (knee) and Joey Leilua, who was given extra time off for his wedding in Samoa and has stayed back to get extra load in his legs.

"We worked inside at the AIS [on Wednesday] and did some football drills, but we need to be outside training on the field," coach Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times, with the smoke too hazardous for any activity outside in Canberra.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

Load in legs? More running or something else?

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders to have meet and greet at Alex Surf Club on Friday 10 January at 5pm

The Alex Surf Club, Alexandra Headland, has announced the Canberra Raiders will be at their club on Friday afternoon, 10 January, from 5pm for a meet greet and then some of the team will head down to the surf to participate in a body surfing competition with our Surf Sports competitors and nippers.

Last time the Raiders went to the Alex Surf Club for a competition with their club members... Sia Soliola needed the life savers! Hopefully that won't happen again.

For those who can't get to the Canberra Raiders open training session on 17 January at Sunshine Coast Stadium (10am-12pm) due to work commitments, this might be a more suitable time.

Read more: http://ow.ly/SJ1E50xQTi5

[zim]

Sun shining on the Canberra Raiders

The Raiders flew to out of a smoky Canberra on Thursday, heading to the Sunshine Coast for a 10 day camp. The team flew into Brisbane today and traveled by bus to the "north coast". Some stayed behind - Luke Bateman (knee) and Joey Leilua, who was given extra time off for his wedding in Samoa and has stayed back to get extra load in his legs.

"We worked inside at the AIS [on Wednesday] and did some football drills, but we need to be outside training on the field," coach Ricky Stuart told The Canberra Times, with the smoke too hazardous for any activity outside in Canberra.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

Bateman still having knee issues? I thought his rehab was completed.

[greeneyed]

Doesn’t seem so.

[Bay53]

Massively important camp this. It is only 9 weeks today to round 1, many of our squad are only returning to training for the first time having played internationals, and we have lost most of the first week back with the smoke. They will do the fan thing today, which is exactly the right thing to do, but then I suspect the rest of the camp will be bloody hard work.

I am nervous that we are going to go into the season underdone, this is a massive challenge for Nigel and the team to get them to the level they were last year without overloading them and creating injuries.

[The Nickman]

Joey not being there seems worrying to me. I sincerely hope the reasons are simply as reported.

[gangrenous]

Yeah, the cynic in me says no Joey round 1 based on that.

[Johno]

Load in legs.....hes overweight and drained from honeymoon

[Northern Raider]

Geez you lot are pessimists

[greeneyed]

Sunshine Coast a breath of fresh air for Canberra Raiders

Despite sweating out a torrid training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium today, the Canberra Raiders are now breathing much easier.

“It was very late notice last Sunday when we started to plan being up here because of the air quality in Canberra and just having the connections and friends here on the Sunshine Coast made it so much easier so we really appreciate the generosity and also the hospitality that we’re receiving,” Stuart said.

Read more: https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Co ... -NRL-stars

VIDEO: Ricky eyeing pre-season boost: Ricky Stuart was joined by Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson as he explained why the Raiders moved pre-season training and what they hope to achieve during the camp: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... son-boost/

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart wants encore season from Jack Wighton

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says he wants a repeat in 2020 of Jack Wighton's stellar first season at five eighth.

"It (2019) was certainly within Jack. He needs to have another one now to show that consistency, that's what the best players do. International players, representative players, all have that consistency in their game.

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/raiders-wa ... dd4ab31e8d

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders join forces with PricewaterhouseCoopers in search of NRL winning edge

The Canberra Raiders have joined forces with one of the world's leading data analysts PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Green Machine's bid to go on step better than last year's NRL grand final. Raiders analyst Joel Carbone is aiming to use data to show what areas of workrate can win you games and to minimise injuries.

"We're trying to find things that are maybe hidden by traditional stats."

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

[greeneyed]

GALLERY: Canberra Raiders begin Sunshine Coast training camp: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... ning-camp/

Daine Spencer still training with the top 30. Given there are 29 players in the squad, would be good fullback depth with Mounties.

[greeneyed]

@TheGHRaiders on Twitter

VIDEO: The Canberra Raiders have their first training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium on their 10 day pre-season training camp. WIN News Canberra reports: http://ow.ly/UrKo50xRSaS

#NRL #WeAreRaiders #wearecbr

[gangrenous]

Geez you lot are pessimists

I wouldn’t call it pessimism, there’s a fair bit of writing on this wall.

[bonehead]

jack looks skinny

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[greeneyed]

Not entirely all work on the Sunshine Coast...

http://ow.ly/NXF450xS1Pd

http://ow.ly/GAWP50xS1CY

[Azza]

Season over.

[Seiffert82]

I'd be surprised if Leilua ever sees the training paddock with the Raiders again.

Just joking. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. There are no rumblings from other clubs looking to pick him up. Of course that may change now the Mitchell situation is sorted.

[Seiffert82]

They should have left George Williams in Canberra to acclimatise him to the smoke.

[gangrenous]

They thought it was better for him to be with the team, so they’ve just asked him to come with them and smoke three packs a day instead.

[-PJ-]

If you look very closely at the first picture of GWilly..he's kicking the ball.

There's a Steeden floating in mid air in the background.

Amazing stuff from the Raiders..

[-PJ-]

jack looks skinny

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Clearly he's not following the same diet and exercise regime as me..

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders' Sia Soliola reunites with the Sunshine Coast lifeguard who saved his life

Sia Soliola has reunited with the Alexandra Headland life saver, Owen Pallister, who saved his life the last time he was on the Sunshine Coast.

"I caught up with Owen. It was good to see him again, reflect on what happened and connect with him, say thanks again. We all had a laugh, a few jokes were flying around. [Coach Ricky Stuart] was all over it saying this could've potentially been a memorial rather than a celebration."

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

VIDEO: Raiders hit the beach: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... the-beach/

VIDEO: Raiders back on the training park: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... the-track/

[-PJ-]

Mrs PJ just watched the beach video..twice.

She was looking for a Sia/Cotric "no shirt" moment !!

Don't worry babe, ill take my shirt off for ya .

Jack looks absolutely ripped by the way.

[greeneyed]

Mrs PJ just watched the beach video..twice.

She was looking for a Sia/Cotric "no shirt" moment !!

Don't worry babe, ill take my shirt off for ya .

Jack looks absolutely ripped by the way.

This is for Mrs PJ: http://ow.ly/a6S250xT3Eg

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1987987 ... 122870604/

[-PJ-]

Mrs PJ just watched the beach video..twice.

She was looking for a Sia/Cotric "no shirt" moment !!

Don't worry babe, ill take my shirt off for ya .

Jack looks absolutely ripped by the way.

This is for Mrs PJ: http://ow.ly/a6S250xT3Eg

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1987987 ... 122870604/

The last thing I need is a toey missus champ..

She'd leave me for Sia and has told me.