Canberra Raiders team for 2024

[denissnowy]

As a follow on, it is at least a potential solution, but geez it's horrible.

Surely, SURELY! They are scouring the market for a NSW Cup level half at min cost on the basis that Sanders is on his way.

If not, they must be 99.999999999999999% sure Sanders will be here by r7.

[Raidernation]

Dean Hawkins or Brandon wakeham maybe?

[Billy Walker]

Why?

Botman always says Fathertime is undefeated.

Botman isn't wrong on that either

I agree

If Fog goes down I reckon Strange to play half and Whitehead 5/8... depends how smellys been training
14. Weekes

Surely Kris, Weekes, Sisagi, Puru are all ahead of him for a halves jumper? It would be concerning if Smelly ended up there.

[BadnMean]

Botman always says Fathertime is undefeated.

Botman isn't wrong on that either

I agree

If Fog goes down I reckon Strange to play half and Whitehead 5/8... depends how smellys been training
14. Weekes

Surely Kris, Weekes, Sisagi, Puru are all ahead of him for a halves jumper? It would be concerning if Smelly ended up there.

I'd rather throw Rapa in there first too. He can kick.

[Billy Walker]

Botman isn't wrong on that either

I agree

If Fog goes down I reckon Strange to play half and Whitehead 5/8... depends how smellys been training
14. Weekes

Surely Kris, Weekes, Sisagi, Puru are all ahead of him for a halves jumper? It would be concerning if Smelly ended up there.

I'd rather throw Rapa in there first too. He can kick.

That would be a wild but fun watch. I suspect he’d run it more than Blake Austin used to.

[Bluesbrother]

Why?

Botman always says Fathertime is undefeated.

Botman isn't wrong on that either

I agree

If Fog goes down I reckon Strange to play half and Whitehead 5/8... depends how smellys been training
14. Weekes

Lol.

[Dusty]

1. Stewart
2. Savage
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Rapana /Cotric
6. Weekes/Strange
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Hosking
13. Smithies

14. Puru
15. Whitehead
16. Mooney
17. Mariota

Horsburgh suspended.


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[-TW-]

1. Stewart
2. Savage
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Rapana /Cotric
6. Weekes/Strange
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Hosking
13. Smithies

14. Puru
15. Whitehead
16. Mooney
17. Mariota

Horsburgh suspended.


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I like it

I wouldn't be surprised to see Savage and Stewart flipped to start, Raps at 5, Weekes in 6, and Hosking and Whitehead flip but Hosking plays the more minutes.

I dunno if we see Levi for Woolford, the pessimist says yes but the optimist says he didn't automatically come back after his injury last year bar Woolfords concussion

[Westsydneyraider]

1. Weekes
2. Rapana
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Cotric
6. Strange
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. Horsbrough

14. Levi
15. Smithies
16. Hoskings
17. Mariota/Guler

18. Savage

I don’t agree with it, but that’s my prediction for rnd 1, ricky will go for experience

[-PJ-]

1. Weekes
2. Rapana
3. Kris
4. Timoko
5. Cotric
6. Strange
7. Fogarty
8. Papalii
9. Woolford
10. Tapine
11. Young
12. Whitehead
13. Horsbrough

14. Levi
15. Smithies
16. Hoskings
17. Mariota/Guler

18. Savage

I don’t agree with it, but that’s my prediction for rnd 1, ricky will go for experience

Horse is in stable.

[Seiffert82]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

[dubby]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

It could be.

It depends on selections and form.

How patient will we be after consecutive losses with youth selected?

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[Matt]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

It could be.

It depends on selections and form.

How patient will we be after consecutive losses with youth selected?

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Depends on the fan. Some of us understand what's ahead of us. But there will be some that don't. Those that don't get the "teething pains" will be very unhappy.

[dubby]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

It could be.

It depends on selections and form.

How patient will we be after consecutive losses with youth selected?

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Depends on the fan. Some of us understand what's ahead of us. But there will be some that don't. Those that don't get the "teething pains" will be very unhappy.

I agree. However, we can expect the constant outrage we endure every year over perceived selections. Regardless.

[Matt]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

It could be.

It depends on selections and form.

How patient will we be after consecutive losses with youth selected?

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Depends on the fan. Some of us understand what's ahead of us. But there will be some that don't. Those that don't get the "teething pains" will be very unhappy.

I agree. However, we can expect the constant outrage we endure every year over perceived selections. Regardless.

Only selections that don't make sense... ie Kris at FB. Or Guler/Saulo over the likes of Mooney, Puru or Ata - I expect these 2 to play, coz Rick likes them BTW.

I can wear the young blokes being held onto for learning.

[dubby]

I actually thought Guler played well last year, certainly improved as the year went on.

Saulo was fine. I think he cops a bad wrap around here.

However, I do agree that Ata should be in the 17 before either of them.

Puru, I foresee as a 14, and I'm hoping Trey gets his opportunity. He has more potential than Saulo.

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[Billy Walker]

I actually thought Guler played well last year, certainly improved as the year went on.

Saulo was fine. I think he cops a bad wrap around here.

However, I do agree that Ata should be in the 17 before either of them.

Puru, I foresee as a 14, and I'm hoping Trey gets his opportunity. He has more potential than Saulo.

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If Guler can get the errors out of his game he becomes a lot more attractive. I agree with you about Saulo. He’s never going to be a world beater but he does a job. I would like to see Ata, Mooney and Puru get a decent run though.

[Rick]

God we have some forward depth. Regardless of how it rolls out there are going to be some unlucky guys who would likely fit into other teams best 13/17


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[Coastalraider]

I actually thought Guler played well last year, certainly improved as the year went on.

Saulo was fine. I think he cops a bad wrap around here.

However, I do agree that Ata should be in the 17 before either of them.

Puru, I foresee as a 14, and I'm hoping Trey gets his opportunity. He has more potential than Saulo.

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This is actually the point though Dubs. Guler and Saulo are ‘fine’. And would be in most 17s across the league. But we have stacked the decks so damn deep that we shouldn’t have ‘fine’ in the 17 at the cost of explosive players on the bench like ata and Mooney. Both showed more bang than the incumbents, and a bench middles role is to impact the game, not be ‘fine’ until the starters come back on.

[Mickey_Raider]

We have a very good forward pack, and I highly rate Timoko and Kris as a centre.

Cotric and Rapa are good wingers, too.

Our spine is bad, though. Especially our 9s.

One can only hope we see Savage and Stewart get a run at FB, with Strange and Weekes vying for 6.

Yep, the spine is a big question mark. Good forwards, solid backs, arguably the worst spine in the NRL.

Could be a long season.

Sent from my CPH2021 using Tapatalk

It could be.

It depends on selections and form.

How patient will we be after consecutive losses with youth selected?

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Depends on the fan. Some of us understand what's ahead of us. But there will be some that don't. Those that don't get the "teething pains" will be very unhappy.

I promise to be very patient when it comes to giving full seasons (or close to it) to the likes of Strange, Stewart, Savage, Sanders (if he gets released early), Mooney, Ata, etc etc

I refuse to be patient with boneheaded selections like EW at the 12 for 25 games/80 mins, Kris at 1, Levi at 9, Saulo/Guler mainstays in the team irrespective of form etc.

Being asked to be patient to compensate for clear coaching deficiencies and selections would be a cop out.

[Botman]

I promise to be very patient when it comes to giving full seasons (or close to it) to the likes of Strange, Stewart, Savage, Sanders (if he gets released early), Mooney, Ata, etc etc

I refuse to be patient with boneheaded selections like EW at the 12 for 25 games/80 mins, Kris at 1, Levi at 9, Saulo/Guler mainstays in the team irrespective of form etc.

Being asked to be patient to compensate for clear coaching deficiencies and selections would be a cop out.

Indeed.
There are occasions in which patience is required and occasions where it is not.

[Dylan’s Raiders]

Bang on.

I can cop the growing pains provided we are giving the right players their opportunities. Hell, I can even cop Levi getting a crack at 9 so long at players like Ethan Strange, Chevy, Hohepa, Trey Mooney, Ata Mariota, Xavier Savage and Adrian Trevilyan are given consistent games and opportunities throughout the season.

2024 is not about making the top 8 it’s about development.

[Botman]

haha that's an interesting question. What does the team need to look like in order to tolerate Danny Levi?

For me, if Stewart/Savage is at fullback, Strange is playing RH and Puru, Mariota and Mooney are all in the 17, I'll make a commitment to at least try to the very best of my abilities to grin and bear the inevitable Levi selection without complaint.

[Mickey_Raider]

Do you think Ricky realises he has probably the most blessed job in the comp?

We are in the midst of a three-decade long premiership drought and yet we have a fan base which appears more than prepared to be patient and keen to enter into a rebuild.

He has all the licence in the world to put all of our chips in on a proper rebuild for the future.

To that end, doing it half baked or allowing the rebuild to be handicapped by misguided loyalty to washed up veterans or brawlers will be inexcusable.

[Botman]

We are in the midst of a three-decade long premiership drought and yet we have a fan base which appears more than prepared to be patient and keen to enter into a rebuild.

A very large part of that is understanding Stuart's not going anywhere, like it or not.
If there was any realistic change for change, i dont think the patience would be as freely available. We have to make the best of it.

[gerg]

We are in the midst of a three-decade long premiership drought and yet we have a fan base which appears more than prepared to be patient and keen to enter into a rebuild.

A very large part of that is understanding Stuart's not going anywhere, like it or not.
If there was any realistic change for change, i dont think the patience would be as freely available. We have to make the best of it.

What rebuild is he up to? 3rd? Hard to remember a coach getting that many cracks at it, at a club that he hasn't won a premiership at.

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[NoMan]

It would probably be his first rebuild wouldnt it? Unless you count when he arrived but that was pretty successful.

[Botman]

We are in the midst of a three-decade long premiership drought and yet we have a fan base which appears more than prepared to be patient and keen to enter into a rebuild.

A very large part of that is understanding Stuart's not going anywhere, like it or not.
If there was any realistic change for change, i dont think the patience would be as freely available. We have to make the best of it.

What rebuild is he up to? 3rd? Hard to remember a coach getting that many cracks at it, at a club that he hasn't won a premiership at.

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Yeah its pretty rare for a coach in any sport to get this many cracks at it without pelts on the wall

[dubby]

Well, Brad Arthur is now the Eels longest serving coach at the club with the longest premiership drought, so it's fair to say he's had a few rebuilds.

Dragons have had a few goes at it, and let's not even mention the Tigers. The coaching carousel at those clubs is not working in their favour.

As botty said, Rick's not going anywhere. And I agree that he has to bloody get this one right.

We almost had it in 2019, let's hope we can do it again. So much potential here if we can get a decent 9

[Wiki Special]

Well, Brad Arthur is now the Eels longest serving coach at the club with the longest premiership drought, so it's fair to say he's had a few rebuilds.

Dragons have had a few goes at it, and let's not even mention the Tigers. The coaching carousel at those clubs is not working in their favour.

As botty said, Rick's not going anywhere. And I agree that he has to bloody get this one right.

We almost had it in 2019, let's hope we can do it again. So much potential here if we can get a decent 9

Absolutely, fingers crossed the club gets this right. Short term pain for long term gain, much like Broncos recently. And like Adam Reynolds was able to add the icing to a developing squad a decent 9 - as you say - will be what we end up needing.

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders predicted Round 1 team and 2024 overview

After bowing out to the Knights in dramatic fashion in an epic golden point final the Raiders would have spent time in the off-season pondering what could have been.

Predicted Round 1 team

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Ethan Strange
4. Matt Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali'i
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Zac Hosking

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/01/12/act ... -overview/

[Raider47]

Canberra Raiders predicted Round 1 team and 2024 overview

After bowing out to the Knights in dramatic fashion in an epic golden point final the Raiders would have spent time in the off-season pondering what could have been.

Predicted Round 1 team

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Ethan Strange
4. Matt Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali'i
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Zac Hosking

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/01/12/act ... -overview/

That bench is yuck.

[Andymachine]

Canberra Raiders predicted Round 1 team and 2024 overview

After bowing out to the Knights in dramatic fashion in an epic golden point final the Raiders would have spent time in the off-season pondering what could have been.

Predicted Round 1 team

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Jordan Rapana
3. Ethan Strange
4. Matt Timoko
5. Nick Cotric
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papali'i
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Morgan Smithies

14. Tom Starling
15. Emre Guler
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Zac Hosking

Read more: https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/01/12/act ... -overview/

That bench is yuck.

It really is gross... and probably accurate to be fair, the balance is perfect - 2 props, a second rower who can cover centre and a hooker. It's just the players are uninspiring.

The starting 13 will be different though. Seb Kris will be in there and SURELY he's in there at centre... surely. I wish I was confident of that.

[NoMan]

I'll be shocked if Ata isn't in the side and potentially starting.

[Andymachine]

I agree and that's how I'd have it if I could choose the team. I like Papa off the bench. He would be a real weapon for us off the bench and I think that his skill/footwork would go well with Mooney who's a really aggressive, hard-runner. The two of them could be like a Paulo/RCG combo off the bench. There would be no shortage of impact there.

The biggest question marks on this season are going to be what the coach is vibing when he selects the round 1 team and then how long he sticks to that. I really hope we see sensible team selections this year.