Toughest preseason ever 2020

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BadnMean
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by BadnMean »

Why is it pathetic? Pretty standard, "new player for casual fans to be aware of" kind of story, quotes some fairly impressive NSW Cup numbers. I mean he's a young player just come up to senior footy, unless he's played junior kangaroos or something that's about all they can talk about.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by greeneyed »

GALLERY: Hands on the football in Raiders' pre-season: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... -football/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Begbie »

Matt wrote: February 7, 2020, 10:17 am Thats a pathetic attempt at talking up HSS
Why so? Seemed a reasonable write up... Do you have inside info?
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Matt »

greeneyed wrote: February 7, 2020, 10:24 am From me or NRL.com?
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Matt »

Begbie wrote: February 8, 2020, 6:02 pm
Matt wrote: February 7, 2020, 10:17 am Thats a pathetic attempt at talking up HSS
Why so? Seemed a reasonable write up... Do you have inside info?
It says 2 things about him. He played in the Jersey Flegg final and played a NSW Cup games. Half his write up is about Leilua leaving. Very very generic.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by julian87 »

Matt wrote: February 9, 2020, 12:09 pm
Begbie wrote: February 8, 2020, 6:02 pm
Matt wrote: February 7, 2020, 10:17 am Thats a pathetic attempt at talking up HSS
Why so? Seemed a reasonable write up... Do you have inside info?
It says 2 things about him. He played in the Jersey Flegg final and played a NSW Cup games. Half his write up is about Leilua leaving. Very very generic.
There are so many of those sorts of articles written atm. They’re pretty much just a stock write up with the individual stats and junior rep honors thrown in.
well, I guess you could say that I'm buy curious.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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VIDEO: 2020 season approaching: The team has rounded our the end of another week of pre-season training as the 2020 season quickly approaches. Check out all the highlights: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... proaching/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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The strongest man at the Canberra Raiders is...

RAIDERS

In the words of Curtis Scott:

“Jack Murchie. I was really surprised when I got to the club because everyone’s jacked – they’re massive.

“Maybe Jack Murchie - he’s pushing out some big numbers - he’s the king of the jungle. I think he’s benching 170 – I’m definitely not in his weights group.”

Kings of the gym: NRL players reveal the strongest men at every club: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... eff3856f3a
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by bonehead »

good now get some killer about him

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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Matt »

Murchie has to do something to get into FG. May as well be that he can man handle some people
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Sid »

I forgot we had Murchie on the books until I saw the nines list
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by RedRaider »

As long as he is also training with a football so that he can catch it, control it under impact and provide FG standard passing then all good. Some players bulk at the expense of skill level. Time will tell.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Danaman137 »

If Murch can’t crack a solid bench spot this year I think someone else will snap him up. Not sure of his contract details but he’d be a good low wage signing for another club.


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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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AUDIO: Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart speaks about how the Green Machine is shaping up for 2020

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart joins Mark Levy to talk about how his side will look to go all the way this year after falling short in the Grand Final against the Roosters. He speaks about the re-signing of Jack Wighton, the short off season, the NRL Nines in Perth and the Raiders' bushfire recovery tour.

Audio: https://www.2gb.com/podcast/wide-world- ... uary-2020/ (13:30 min mark)
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Recruit rater: Every NRL club’s buys and re-signings graded

CANBERRA RAIDERS

Ins: Curtis Scott (Storm), George Williams (Wigan Warriors), Tom Starling, Harley Smith-Shields (upgraded from development contracts)

Outs: Jordan Rapana (Japanese rugby union), Ata Hingano (Mackay Cutters), Brad Abbey, Royce Hunt, Reuben Porter (unsigned), Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield), Joey Leilua (Tigers)

Rating: A-: Prior to Curtis Scott’s Australia Day incident, the Raiders’ recruitment for 2020 was very impressive. But given a possible suspension for Scott then add the loss of Joey Leilua to the Wests Tigers on top of that and their recruitment doesn’t look as dangerous anymore. Losing Jordan Rapana will hurt, however English half George Williams is a big addition and will take the Raiders’ attack to the next level. The club has also locked down their future by re-signing 2019 Clive Churchill medallist Jack Wighton until the end of 2024.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 700116663c
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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If you look at who's in, I think they are all good footballers for the role. Scott is up in the air for other reasons but HSS is highly regarded, Starling showed me he could handle a bit of FG in a pinch and offer something (staunch defender, quick runner, if small), Williams showed a but of creativity in his short England appearance (on a hiding to nothing) and a winning pedigree.

What we've lost is mostly plodders or considered, deliberate decisions where we've saved $ and potentially upgraded the position or future proofed too.

Rapana was solid and experienced but couldn't stretch out anymore. He'd lost his zing in attack. Probably couldn't keep he and Cotric ultimately so Cotric takes over as the banker winger. Joey was still excellent but seems Stuart was sick of it and someone may have offered what we were no longer prepared to cop to. Loss overall but necessary. We had decided Sezer wasn't quite the man and it fits with moving some creativity into the spine instead of relying on magic out wide.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Seiffert82 »

I reckon A- is a pretty generous assessment. I think the rating is unconsciously biased by the fact we made the grand final last season.

In any other year, if our big recruit was an unknown quantity at halfback and a bloke offloaded from another club for disciplinary reasons, we would have been caned by the media. Especially after losing an experienced halfback and our gun right edge attack.

Maybe a B- for mine. It ultimately rests on how good Williams proves to be. If he turns out to be anywhere near as good as Hodgo or Bateman then it's clearly a A+ result. Time will tell with Curtis Scott. He didn't come to us as some sort of superstar, and to date he's just been a pain in the ass. Fingers crossed he turns out to be worth it.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Canberra Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead excited by new Green Machine halves pairing

Canberra Raiders forward Elliott Whitehead believes the new halves pairing of George Williams and Jack Wighton will give the club's NRL title hopes a kick in the right direction.

"George Williams has got a great little kicking game on him. So to go along with Jack Wighton with his long kicking game, I think he's going to really help us in that department and hopefully we get a lot more repeat sets this year and put a lot more pressure on people up in their half with his kicks."

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/raiders-gi ... 5265c1289e
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Canberra Raiders forward Joe Tapine hoses down talk of edge return this season

Joe Tapine wants to stay at lock regardless of whether John Bateman's fit for the Canberra Raiders' season opener. Corey Horsburgh is shaping as as edge option to cover for Bateman's shoulder.

"I told Ricky Stuart I wanted to play lock this year. I think they're going to maybe look at a different person going into second row. I want to start at lock this year and I want to play lock all year.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by BadnMean »

I'm actually glad Tapine knows it's high time he knuckled down and became excellent and consistent at one position. He's past the talent stage and into the "delivery" stage and with all his suspensions and injury ups and downs he really needs to groove one position and specialise in it.

He's got the power game to make an impact in the middle + the footwork and offload you'd want in a lock to add that extra danger to your packs attack. He can lay on a hit. That one lazy play per game (GF classic example) still lets him down. I hope he works that out.

He's almost skated by on pure talent so far and been ok, but never really taken a season and just ripped in the whole time and delivered week in, week out, like a Papa or Whitehead.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Seiffert82 »

Yeah, I agree. Time for him to take his game to the next level and deliver more consistently.

Horsburgh to second row is a bit left field...or right field as the case may be.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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@TheGHRaiders on Twitter

VIDEO: The #Canberra #Raiders put smiles on faces at the Canberra Hospital Children's Ward today ... and it was Batemans every way you looked! It was all part of a heartwarming mission to deliver showbags to sick kids. #NRL

WIN News Canberra reports: http://ow.ly/dXp850yp09d

VIDEO: Canberra Raiders pay special visit to Canberra Hospital: John and Luke Bateman visited Canberra Hospital to give show bags to sick kids who are unable to attend the Royal Canberra show over the course of the next fortnight: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... -hospital/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Backs rater: Every NRL club’s back five analysed and graded ahead of the 2020 premiership race

Predicted back five: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2 Nick Cotric 3 Jarrod Croker 4 Curtis Scott 5 Bailey Simonsson

Experience: 429 NRL games

Rating: A-

Strength: The Raiders have a well-balanced back five with attacking threats across the park. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was up there with James Tedesco and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as one of the most consistent fullbacks last season. Jarrod Croker is a point scoring machine and a respected leader that demands the best from his teammates. Nick Cotric made his debut for both the Blues and Australia last season and looks set for a long career in representative footy.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 9f9f38acb0
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Have the Canberra Raiders wrecked a good thing?

Before their grand final charge reached its zenith, Canberra had already decided to part ways with halfback Aidan Sezer and bring in English star George Williams. The Raiders came within a couple of dubious calls of winning the premiership, yet Sezer is gone and the unproven Williams takes his place. It is a massive move.

Sezer out, Williams in ... will that change make Canberra better or worse, with the discarded model having taken them 99 per cent of the way to a first title since 1994?

Read more: https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/mitchell-p ... 142f45b419
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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GALLERY: The countdown continues: The Raiders were working hard with the football in hand on Friday as Round 1 draws nearer: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... continues/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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GALLERY: Canberra Raiders visit Captains Flat: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/02 ... ains-flat/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Expert predictions 2020 - Who will be premiers and more

Michael Ennis: Canberra Raiders

“I think the Raiders. It’s obviously a question that’s difficult to answer this time of the year particularly when the side you work with made the grand final last year and missed out but I genuinely think that they’ll get there.

“I like the addition of Williams from what I’ve seen of him over the summer. I like the diversity of the group down there, I like the characters that they’ve got there, I like the way they play their footy and how hard they work.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... a9c0d5ce5a
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Seiffert82 »

I'm with Ennis. Raiders for premiers and Warriors for the spoon. Everyone else going with the Roosters/Titans split.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by greeneyed »

Canberra Raiders 2020 season preview

The Raiders were one of the real surprise packets of 2019, rocketing from 10th a year earlier to a grand final appearance - but can they go one step further?

Some sharp recruiting and a new-found steel in defence were the cornerstones of Canberra's impressive campaign.

With a couple of significant roster changes, the heat will be on early as the Green Machine look to avoid the drop-off experienced from the 2016 second-place finish into a disappointing 2017.

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/27/can ... n-preview/

VIDEO: Soward's Say: 2020 Raiders to finish third: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/27/sow ... 0-raiders/
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Seiffert82 »

Interesting with Bateman out for an extended period, we basically start 2020 with a completely re-jigged right hand side after Leilua and Rapana's departure. Also doesn't help with Scott's availability being so up in the air and Hudson Young suspended. That whole combination will be all over the shop.

Not too many clubs would be needing to sort that out.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Raider47 »

Very concerning off season if we're being honest.

Hope the lads are strong enough to overcome the uncertainty around Scott and injury to Bateman.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

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Who'll make the top eight? NRL.com experts have their say: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/27/who ... their-say/

A lot don’t see the Raiders in the top four...
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Danaman137 »

greeneyed wrote:Who'll make the top eight? NRL.com experts have their say: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/27/who ... their-say/

A lot don’t see the Raiders in the top four...
Well majority of them didn’t have us in the 8 last year. Shows what they know Image


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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by BadnMean »

Look given our current situation with Bateman and Scott, plus the carried forward issues with Young + GWilly still an unknown quantity in NRL terms, I don't think it's unreasonable to have us 8 but not top 4 actually.

Just two wins makes a huge difference on an NRL ladder and being without one of our most influential forwards and our biggest backline recruit for potentially a third of the season or so has me reconsidering my previous expectations.

I think we can come home strong if we get it all together- but there are just so much more moving pieces needed to get in place for that to happen now.
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Re: Toughest preseason ever 2020

Post by Seiffert82 »

A lot of pressure on the Eels in particular, and also Manly, to step up to the next level this season.

I think finding the replacement for the Sezer-Bateman-Leilua-Rapana combo over the first couple not months of the season knocks us down a few pegs. A few early losses will put us under a fair bit of pressure to make the top 4.

Anyway, the coaching staff seem to have a plan to manage it.
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