Toughest preseason ever 2020

[zim]

Haha yeah agree. No way you can give an A+. I think we're up there though. All the top spines have 3 great known quantities, with 1 other player that is potentially great but has a downside eg untested or inexperienced.

[Northern Raider]

From worst to best in the space of a year

Yeah, that's how much we can read into these things.

Potentially we could be very good, but on the other hand we have an NRL rookie halfback, and a couple of blokes who have essentially played one entire season in their respective positions.

Walters-Stuart-Daley-Belcher gets an A+. Not sure I'm quite as certain about this combo.

Yeah A+ is a stretch given Williams is an unknown commodity in both NRL and no7. Potentially and A+ but right now I'd say A or A-.

Last year our rating was based on a spine of:

1. Wighton
6. Sezer
7. S Williams
9. Hodgo

No way is that the worst spine but definitely in the lower 3rd.

[Seiffert82]

From worst to best in the space of a year

Yeah, that's how much we can read into these things.

Potentially we could be very good, but on the other hand we have an NRL rookie halfback, and a couple of blokes who have essentially played one entire season in their respective positions.

Walters-Stuart-Daley-Belcher gets an A+. Not sure I'm quite as certain about this combo.

Yeah A+ is a stretch given Williams is an unknown commodity in both NRL and no7. Potentially and A+ but right now I'd say A or A-.

Last year our rating was based on a spine of:

1. Wighton
6. Sezer
7. S Williams
9. Hodgo

No way is that the worst spine but definitely in the lower 3rd.

Yeah, the ratings are obviously biased by team performance from the previous year. Makes sense...I just think key players quite often tend to be over or under rated based on the quality of their supporting cast.

CNK is really good but has some room for improvement and Wighton had a breakout season, Williams is a complete unknown. There is no way our spine should get a rating that indicates it's almost impossible to be better.

Similarly last season, I didn't think our spine was one of the worst in the comp - but then again I thought Wighton at FB and Hodgo were two of the best players in their position. I also thought Sezer was solid and Williams was capable. Possibly over-rated those two, but my thoughts never really changed.

[Northern Raider]

Swap in Teddy or RTS for CNK and a Cleary or DCE for G Williams and you have an A+ NRL spine.

[Seiffert82]

Yep.

The Roosters with a fit Tedesco, Keary, Cronk and Friend were the only A+ spine last season.

[greeneyed]

GALLERY: Need for speed: The Canberra Raiders were put through a sprint session this week: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... for-speed/

Matt Timoko and Daine Spencer still with the top squad.

[LimeGreenMachine]

MMM had an interview with TPJ. He was asked a question along the lines how tough has the pre-season been under Siebs .

His reply was its been tough , he had some tough preseasons with Ricky Stuart and this has been like that.

[bonehead]

GALLERY: Need for speed: The Canberra Raiders were put through a sprint session this week: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... for-speed/

Matt Timoko and Daine Spencer still with the top squad.

is that Seb Kris in the Croker pic?

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[greeneyed]

I don't think it is Seb Kris... I'm guessing Tom Starling. Bit hard to tell.

[cat]

Its jarrett subloo

[bonehead]

cheers cat

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[cat]

cheers cat

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

No worries

[greeneyed]

Must have shaved his beard.

[cat]

Yep

[greeneyed]

VIDEO: Pre-season 2020: Speed and Agility: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/01 ... d-agility/

[greeneyed]

Ranking every club's goal-kicking stocks

5. Canberra Raiders
Jarrod Croker: 744/929, 80.1%
Sam Williams: 25/30, 83.3%
Last season the Raiders had a back-up kicker with a career percentage over 80%. This year with Aidan Sezer gone, there is no player in Canberra's best 17 who has ever kicked a goal other than captain Croker. Williams has never kicked other than a short stint in 2018 and will not be in the starting side unless one of the other halves is injured. Croker took every kick for the Green Machine in 2019 but had a down year by his standards, landing just under 74% – the fourth-worst overall percentage of the 16 clubs, which is why the Raiders are ranked below the Sea Eagles and Eels.

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/02/ran ... ng-stocks/

[Seiffert82]

Last year most certainly wasn't one of Toots' best.

[gangrenous]

there is no player in Canberra's best 17 who has ever kicked a goal other than captain Croker

Soliola begs to differ

[greeneyed]

Time to justify the price tag: The star most under pressure at your NRL club in 2020

Raiders

Historically not many grand finalists improve after losing their halfback from the previous season, but Aidan Sezer’s departure has opened the door George Williams to fill the No.7 role full-time in 2020. The 25-year-old veteran of 184 games for Wigan comes highly regarded and will fit in well with Canberra’s English contingent both on and off the field. However halfback is such a crucial position and it will take time for Williams to strike up a combination with his new teammates.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 54864fdbef

[greeneyed]

Williams helping Williams as Canberra Raiders cohesion builds

They are Raiders halfbacks with the same surname but one is likely to play the majority of first-grade games for Ricky Stuart's side this year – George Williams.

"I'll be helping George adapt a little bit to the team and the way we do things. I've been around for a little while so I understand the way this club works and our structures on the field," Sam Williams said. "I'm still fighting for a [starting] position so nothing changes there but I'm getting George up to speed as well."

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/05/wil ... on-builds/

VIDEO: Sia Soliola ready to lead from the front again in 2020: Sia Soliola is looking to lead the Raiders' young forwards again in 2020. The prop has also expressed his desire to be in the mix for selection for the upcoming Perth Nines: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... n-in-2020/

[Coastalraider]

Williams helping Williams as Canberra Raiders cohesion builds

They are Raiders halfbacks with the same surname but one is likely to play the majority of first-grade games for Ricky Stuart's side this year – George Williams.

"I'll be helping George adapt a little bit to the team and the way we do things. I've been around for a little while so I understand the way this club works and our structures on the field," Sam Williams said. "I'm still fighting for a [starting] position so nothing changes there but I'm getting George up to speed as well."

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/05/wil ... on-builds/

Sammy actually seems like he would transition well to a halves coach - its usually the ones who have to work their asses of that make the good coaches, not the ultra talented ones. See Joey vs Andrew Johns for example.

[simo]

Williams helping Williams as Canberra Raiders cohesion builds

They are Raiders halfbacks with the same surname but one is likely to play the majority of first-grade games for Ricky Stuart's side this year – George Williams.

"I'll be helping George adapt a little bit to the team and the way we do things. I've been around for a little while so I understand the way this club works and our structures on the field," Sam Williams said. "I'm still fighting for a [starting] position so nothing changes there but I'm getting George up to speed as well."

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/05/wil ... on-builds/

Sammy actually seems like he would transition well to a halves coach - its usually the ones who have to work their asses of that make the good coaches, not the ultra talented ones. See Joey vs Andrew Johns for example.

Ive heard it gets quite messy when joey goes up against andrew

[greeneyed]

VIDEO: Canberra Raiders half Sam Williams and forward Sia Soliola speak about the disrupted pre season for the Green Machine. WIN News Canberra reports... http://ow.ly/G3Bv50ydTrC

#NRL #WeAreRaiders #wearecbr

[afgtnk]

Wonder how the team are going while the air quality has again been quite poor over the last week or so, and if it's affecting training at all.

Obviously not anywhere near what it was in early Jan, but I wouldn't think it's healthy for the team to be doing intense training when the AQI is still 100+ during the day.

[greeneyed]

Forwards rater: Every NRL club’s engine room analysed and graded

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

Experience: 729 NRL games

Rating: A+

Strength: Availability is a key strength for the Raiders with all but Josh Papalii’i ineligible to play State of Origin. That gives Ricky Stuart’s men a powerful advantage at a time of year where most powerhouse clubs are decimated by NSW and Queensland representation. English trio Hodgson, Bateman and Whitehead set the standards for the team and their hooker is up there with Cameron Smith and Damien Cook as one of the best rakes in the game. Papali’i was a colossus in 2019 for club, state and country and he leads the way every week for his fellow Raiders to follow.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 24f5741dbf

[-PJ-]

Let's just get the footy on ****...

[greeneyed]

I actually think they've under-rated the Roosters, at least an A, and probably the Storm. Not sure the Rabbitohs are an A-.

[julian87]

I actually think they've under-rated the Roosters, at least an A, and probably the Storm. Not sure the Rabbitohs are an A-.

Agreed.

Ethan Lowe and Jaidan Su’a in the second row does not stack up as A-

[edwahu]

Better to rate them without the hooker (a spine player) and with bench forwards.

In which case Roosters are an A+ and I'd have us as an A-.

[zim]

I actually think they've under-rated the Roosters, at least an A, and probably the Storm. Not sure the Rabbitohs are an A-.

Agree. Rabbits pack looking thin at the moment.

[afgtnk]

I fail to see how a pack with Lodge, Haas, Fifita, and Pangai Jnr isn't an A, without even mentioning Ofahengaue on the bench.

[edwahu]

They got regularly reamed by the top packs throughout the year though. A- is generous.

[greeneyed]

Why Harley Smith-Shields is the Canberra Raiders rookie to watch in 2020

Named the 2019 Jersey Flegg Player of the Year, some unexpected circumstances have catapulted Harley Smith-Shields into centre contention for round one. Smith-Shields will compete with the likes of Michael Oldfield and Andre Niko for a backline spot if Scott becomes unavailable.

Smith-Shields made the leap to Canterbury Cup last year and held his own in seven games, averaging more than 100 metres and scoring six tries.

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/07/you ... h-in-2020/

[Matt]

Thats a pathetic attempt at talking up HSS

[greeneyed]

From me or NRL.com?