With the likes of Martin Taupau and Andrew Davey moving on and plenty of competition in the forwards at Manly, there is no doubt that Fifita is a player to watch under new coach Anthony Seibold. Luke Priddis has played a career total of 315 first-grade games but of those, 44 were at the Raiders. Blake Ferguson: 60 matches (36 tries); 1 match for NSW. Appeared on this list last year and while his debut didn't come in 2022, there is the belief that Paul Alamoti is ready to explode onto the scene in 2023. While he has technically had a small taste of NRL football as a mid-game concussion replacement, Ata Mariota will be hoping to make more of an impact this year. if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; 12 tries, 6 finals 2 wins. Shaun Fensom is a player who I really expected to have represented in some capacity. 10. A product of the Broncos Academy system, Mozer comes into the season with plenty of upside and will be hoping to push the likes of Billy Walters and Cory Paix for the No.9 jumper. de la Cruz was born to a Sri Lankan mother and Filipino father in Innisfail, but was raised and educated in the Northern Territory capital, Darwin. Before embarking on a successful coaching career, Maguire played 18 first-grade games ove seven years. He also played seven games for Queensland, the last of which was the first-ever Origin game in 1980. As we noted in June. Terry Fahey: 55 matches (28 tries); Dally M Winger of the Year (1981); 6 Tests for Australia; 8 matches for NSW. Below is a list of contracted players for 2023. Iro finished the year as NSW Cup Player of the Year for the entire competition, finishing with 17 linebreaks and 14 tries for the Jets, before capping off the year by representing Cook Islands in the World Cup. Arriving on the scene at the tail-end of their golden period, Davico missed the 1994 grand final win, but was their Rookie of the Year the following season and played in six finals series with the club between 1995 and 2003. PS: A couple of sources say Grant toured New Zealand with a combined Sydney side in 1981 but I can find no actual records, so he is in. If youre after great odds on every NRL match try signing up for PlayUp. To view matches in which a player appeared, click the List button. Terry Martin (92) 2000-2006. The Raiders will look to return to the Jersey Flegg competition in 2022 while also maintaining a team in the NSW Cup. Still only 20 years of age, the Central Coast product played the majority of last season in NSW Cup, producing 23 try assists and 26 linebreak assists in 23 games. 6 tries. After leaving the NRL with over 150 first grade games, Withers spent a further five seasons in the English Super League, racking up another 113 matches for Celtic Crusaders and Hull Kingston Rovers. Alan Smith With the likes of Viliame Kikau and Jmaine Hopgood moving on at the end of 2022, Penrith have some vacancies in their back-row rotation and Riki will be hoping he can help fill the void. The 22-year-old has played 25 games of Queensland Cup and has come through the grades at the highly-successful Storm system, but will move to the Dragons in the hopes of securing an NRL spot. Player statistics are updated at the end of each season. Nathan Smith 64 wins 82 losses. Please gamble responsibly. James Buckley Sports Editor 35 wins 48 losses. South East Asian After three years with Parramatta, Hodgson joined the Raiders in 2001 and played six seasons for the club. England A shoulder reconstruction ruined his 2005 season and he returned as a front rower, but was not able to secure another contract. Steve Trindall But what about the players who came and went from the club in no time flat? 12 tries, 6 finals 2 wins. were not commanding first grade spots last year but their departures still affect depth . The 21-year-old hooker featured prominently for Newcastle in 2022 in the NSW Cup competition and is signed as a development player for the 2023 campaign. Bellamy played for a decade for the Raiders from their entry into the NSWRL before becoming possibly the greatest coach in rugby league history. All Matches. The Samoan-born prop excelled in NSW Cup in 2022, finishing the year with 25 offloads and over 120 run metres per game for the Raiders. Dear Santa: What every NRL coach is putting at top of their Christmas wish list, Round 1 Predicted Teams - Raiders: Ricky reckons Canberra a top-four team with settled roster. The NRL season is rapidly approaching, with plenty of talented young guns pushing to make the jump to first grade in 2023. Following the retirement of Andrew McCullough in the off-season and uncertainty of Jacob Liddle as the long-term hooker, Finau has plenty to prove and is a player that St George Illawarra fans should be excited about. James Buckley Sports Editor James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. With 45 appearances in reserve grade to his name with the Warriors, Redcliffe and Panthers, the 24-year-old edge-forward is pushing for an opportunity and has an impressive resume behind him. On top of that, Ronald Volkman who was at one stage seen as Sam Walkers long-term partner was allowed to walk away from the club and join the Warriors mid-way through 2022. After a fantastic 2022 campaign that saw the Eels make the grand final, Brad Arthur will be forced into somewhat of a rebuild following the exit of some key players. The Canberra Raiders entered the big time in 1982 and since then have had 367 players pull on the green jersey in first grade. Rugless was a junior boxing standout, winning national titles as a teenager and touring the globe with the Australian team, before making the decision to stick with the football. He is of South Sea Island descent. One of those young men is versatile outside back Kayal Iro, who played his sole first grade game in Round 24 last year against the Bulldogs, but will be looking for a much bigger role heading into 2023. Fensom came on the scene in 2008, captaining the Raiders Under-20s side to a premiership. Thompson played in four losing finals for the club between 2002 and 2006. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs: 109 matches; 4 Tests for Australia; 4 matches for NSW. A brother's bond: The gift that kept Harley's NRL dream alive. 2 finals 2 losses. If youre not familiar with Josiah Karapani yet, something tells us you will be by the time the 2023 season is done and dusted. s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', After leaving the Raiders, Martin played for the Celtic Crusaders for two seasons in England. Dane Tilse has the record of the most games for the Raiders without playing rep footy and is one of only around a . After retiring, Davico has been a long-term owner of Goldbergs Coffee House in Newcastle. After contract disputes, he headed to Penrith in 2007 where he established himself over the next nine seasons. He played just two games that year before moving on, playing the bulk of his career in England, including four Test matches for Wales. Raiders officials had explored the possibility of using the local Canberra rugby league competition as an option to offer its fringe players regular game time, before the NSWRL admitted the club as the 11th team into their league. He played in the clubs 2006 and 2009 qualifying final losses, scoring a try in 2006. The Canberra Raiders entered the big time in 1982 and since then have had 367 players pull on the green jersey in first grade. Glen Buttriss played hooker for the Raiders from 2008 to 2015, including finals series in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Club legends to play over 200 games for the Green Machine include Laurie Daley, Simon Woolford, Jarrod Croker, Ruben Wiki, Jason Croker and Ricky Stuart. After playing some footy with the Maitland Pickers, Tilse is now a youth worker in Newcastle. The teenage local junior scored four tries in 15 games of NSW Cup last season, averaging 150 run metres per game, but had a few injury concerns throughout the campaign. Tilse started with Newcastle in 2004 but moved to the Raiders two years later after being sacked by the Knights for unbecoming conduct. 44 wins 46 losses. Raiders re-sign Havili. 5. The teenage playmaker was a standout in the U19s State of Origin last year, and has recently inked an extension with the Storm that will keep him on deck long-term. He then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs when they were readmitted to the competition and played three seasons for them and being named Clubman of the Year in back-to-back seasons before retiring, having played over 200 first grade games. You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content. 28 tries 1 goal 1 FG. James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. Liam is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia. "They are an example for the ones coming through.". China A tough player to build a club on, fellow foundation player John Mcleod said We used to call him Nana, because when he did his nana you made sure you kept out of his way.. 4 finals 4 losses. A local junior, Wood made significant contributions to Canberras success, scoring the final decisive try in their 1990 win over Penrith and scoring two tries and kicking a goal in their loss to the same side in 1991. David Grant: 76 matches for Canberra; Inaugural captain. The 20-year-old local junior had a short stint at Newcastle, before returning to the Eels and recently re-signing until the end of 2025. As for previous articles in this series, I will attempt to put together a quality team for each NRL club made up solely of players since 1980 who never went beyond club level. John (Chicka) Ferguson: 94 matches (50 tries); Dally M Winger of the Year (1985, 88); 3 Tests for Australia; 8 matches for NSW. His mother, Evelyn Scott, is a former chairwoman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. He sees the game really well. Meninga himself doesn't call himself Indigenous, so who are we to argue. Pezet has received high praise from the likes of Andrew Johns, and while he may have to bide his time before earning a permanent spot in the top grade, there is a strong chance we see him pop up during 2023. 7. After leaving the Raiders, Davico spent a year with Wigan that didnt work out due tearing his pectoral five minutes into his first pre-season game. Of the six, only Sam Williams is yet to find a new club, with Josh Hodgson ( Parramatta Eels ), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ( New Zealand Warriors ), Adam Elliot ( Newcastle Knights ), Ryan Sutton ( Canterbury Bulldogs) and Harry Rushton . 1994 grand final player Brett Hetherington was a shoo-in for this spot, only for me to find out he represented Australia in the 1997 Super League World Nines. That was by far his most successful year, playing 26 games and topping the clubs try-scoring list. NZ After leaving the Raiders, he played for the Mounties in the NSW Cup (losing the 2016 premiership by a point to the Illawarra Cutters), for the Cootamundra Bulldogs back in his home town, with the Belconnen United Sharks with Shaun Fensom and for the Currumbin Eagles on the Gold Coast in 2021. Karapani was a constant fixture in NSW Cup for the Bunnies in 2022 and with a lack of depth in the club's backline, the young gun looks poised to make the jump to the NRL this year. He played nearly 250 games for Castleford and 14 games for England in a 15-year career and squeezed in just two games for the Raiders in the 1985 season. He is currently an assistant to Ricky Stuart at GIO Stadium. Slightly cheating on our own rule here Cronulla may have an established and experienced roster, but they also have a number of players with a few NRL games or less to their name. David Nana Grant was a founding member of the Raiders after stints in the 1970s with Souths, Easts and mostly Balmain, where he played 50 games over four seasons. After returning to Australia, Purtell became captain-coach of the Albury Thunder, his home town. Hes gone down in Canberra Raiders history as the first try-scorer in the NRL, Gerry de la Cruz is one player sure to be remembered by multicultural Australian rugby players for years to come. After a stellar showing in the Rugby League World Cup, teenage playmaker Isaiya Katoa will be pushing for a spot in the Dolphins side to start next year. Wood was inducted into the Canberra Raiders Hall of Fame in 2020. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); He appeared in five finals matches for the club across four seasons and unfortunately lost all of them. David Boyle (117) 1991-1998. Tigers fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming years, especially with a talented group of young guns ready to take the NRL by storm. 87 wins 114 losses. Cronulla clearly have high hopes for Iro, with the club re-signing him until the end of 2024 and promoting him to their top 30 roster for the next two years. "I was an example for all of my brothers coming through.". Copyright 2021 Cultural Pulse. who played his sole first grade game in . A talented and crafty hooker, Finau has inked a development contract heading into the season, but has already signed on for the clubs top 30 in 2024 and could feasibly make the jump sooner if he impresses during pre-season. fbq('track', 'PageView'); The first four players on the list pick themselves. His younger brother Sione has also signed a development deal and is an outside back with plenty of upside. Smith was a quality back rower and Canberra junior who got his start in 2004, playing seven games. Craig Bellamy in his playing days (Image via raiders.com.au), Halfback: Andrew McFadden (76) 1997-2001. What was the best and worst premiership decider in the quarter-century of the NRL? 2. 87 wins 114 losses. and has recently inked an extension with the Storm that will keep him on deck long-term. While he is only on a train-and-trial deal as it stands, Riki understands the Penrith culture and the club know exactly what to expect from him after starring in their reserve grade outfit. Meninga said this weekend's Indigenous Round played an important role in highlighting the achievements of Indigenous players and the role they have in the game. The criteria for selection is: No representing at senior level: internationals, State of Origin, Prime Ministers XIII, City vs. Country or All Stars Current players are excluded Players are only eligible for the club they played the most first grade games for. He is quite explosive out of dummy half. 'Im not concerned': Wallabies' NRL wish list revealed but V'landys says stars won't switch for rugby's 'TikTok' tedium, Round 1 Predicted Teams - Dragons: Sullivan hamstrung, Amone facing court in off-season of turmoil, pick your best players and compete in daily NRL fantasy competitions, great odds on every NRL match try signing up for PlayUp. The son of former Kiwis player Kevin Iro and the nephew of Tony Iro, the 22-year-old is in the mix to push for a spot in the Sharks backline year after a stellar NSW Cup campaign for Newtown. Laurie Daley was named at five-eighth in the NRL's Indigenous Team of the Century in 2008, while Backo and cult hero John "Chicka" Ferguson were honoured in a similar team in 2001. The Canberra Raiders will field its own reserve grade side in the NSW Cup competition this season for the first time since 2007 in what will help bolster rugby league ranks in the region. 24 wins 53 losses. Lincoln Withers (83) 2000-2008. "Guys like David Grant, Percy Knight, Terry Wickey and Lui Bon played a pretty big part in those early years in '82, '83 and '84," Meninga said. 7. Fensom himself had a match to forget, suffering a nasty broken leg just a few minutes into the match. A classy pivot from the Brisbane competition, Smith had a brief tilt at the Sydney game, firstly with North Sydney in 1980 and 1981, and then with Canberra in the 1982 season, turning out 11 times. Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors. Fensom joined the Broncos in 2019 but only made two appearances that year before retiring from top-level footy and turning out for the Belconnen United Sharks for a couple of years. 8. Kanye Wests new Australian wife, Where Victorians are looking to move: Tasmania grabs top spot in post-lockdown era, Gold Coast acreage with golf simulator, chook chateau for sale, Premier League top goal scorers 2022-2023: Updated golden boot rankings. Tedesco, Latrell, Papenhuyzen and more: Who are the NRL's best 10 fullbacks for season 2023? 14 tries. A little bit older and a little bit more experienced than many players on this list, Preston Riki has an NRL debut within his grasp heading into 2023. Jason Death (57) 1991-1995. "This year, I've had that experience and I definitely want to take that next step forward and push for a spot in the top 17..that's probably my biggest goal for next year. "It gave me a lot of confidence coming out of that knowing that I'd lasted out there playing with those boys, so it definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving forward. Since de la Cruzs history-making try, there are eight other players with Filipino ancestry who have played first grade, including Ben Gonzales, Paul Sheedy, Joven Clarke, Craig Wing, Kevin Gordon, Matt Srama, Andrew Everingham, Shane Gray, Almer Salvilla (Super League) and now Haas. With the likes of Ryan Sutton and Adam Elliott moving on at the end of last year, there is likely a spot opening up in Canberras middle-forward rotation that the 21-year-old will undoubtedly be striving for. Lincoln Withers spent five seasons at the Raiders covering post-Stuart halfback and post-Walters hooking duties, a truly thankless task. Who makes the cut as the best of the best in the number one jersey? Michael Maguire (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images). Starling was playing 65.7 minutes a game as Canberra stumbled to a 3-6 start before Woolford's arrival. The door is now open for Alamoti to move into the top side following Aaron Schoupp's departure, and he is likely to gain a starting spot for Round 1 at this stage. Am Mataele is signed to a development deal for 2023, but there is no reason why he couldn't receive an upgrade or force his way into the top 17 at some stage during the year. South East Asia While he is unlikely to usurp Jayden Brailey for the starting No.9 position any time soon, Rugless is certainly in the frame to act as his deputy and could make his NRL debut if injury strikes during the lengthy season. The door is now open for Alamoti to move into the top side following Aaron Schoupps departure, and he is likely to gain a starting spot for Round 1 at this stage. With few people of mixed cultural background playing in the NRL at the time, de la Cruz was often confused as being of Chinese-Aborigine origin, but it was his skill as a halfback in the Raiders premiere match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs that really struck a chord in the game and with fans. After leaving the Raiders, Purtell spent a couple of years at Penrith, appearing in their 2010 finals series, before heading to England where he played nearly 100 games for the Bradford Bulls and London Broncos. ASH brings you latest sports updates, news, and market trends. Michael Blake Fringe first graders, extended squad members and under-21s players will play in the NSW Cup side, while it gives coach Ricky Stuart another option when bringing players back from injury. One of those quality rookies is Rua Ngatikaura, who is already signed to the top 30 at the Tigers and has huge wraps on him. After leaving the Raiders, Corkery played for Cronulla for a couple of seasons before retiring. He never played more than 12 games in any other year and was out of the first grade side by the time they broke through for the 1989 premiership. 2. English Matt Orford Weaver is locked in a battle with Toby Sexton and Tanah Boyd for a spot in the halves at the club. Ngatikaura will have to bide his time behind Api Koroisau for the next few years, but could potentially nab a spot on the bench during the 2023 campaign. 8 finals 2 wins. The Samoan-born prop excelled in NSW Cup in 2022, finishing the year with 25 offloads and over 120 run metres per game for the Raiders. If you needed an insight into how highly the Roosters rate young playmaker Sandon Smith, you only need to look at the players they have let go in the past 12 months. Jason Death was a clever hooker who could easily have made this team for North Queensland, the NZ Warriors and Souths, but his 57 games for Canberra from his debut just pips them all. 2 finals 1 win. A talented multi-sport athlete, Kobe Rugless joined the Knights last year after coming through the Roosters system as a teenager. 9 tries. Not since Brett and Josh Morris has there been this much excitement about twin brothers in the NRL. Appeared on this list last year and while his debut didnt come in 2022, there is the belief that Paul Alamoti is ready to explode onto the scene in 2023. If you disagree, feel free to sub in Trevor Thurling or Luke Bateman. The 19-year-old played 10 games of QLD Cup last year, setting up five tries and kicking 12 goals, and will likely continue to ply his trade in that competition when the season commences. 25 in 25: Best Kangaroos player of NRL era - Lockyer, Slater, Smith, Joey, Inglis? Matthew Wood (74) 1989-1996. All Rights Reserved. Stocks flash rare bull-market signal for first time in nearly 3 years. fbq('init', 235247967118144); n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and is already signed to the Rabbitohs top 30 roster for the next two seasons. Prolific try-scorer Ken Nagas was one of those, while modern-day stars Jack Wighton and Edrick Lee have bright futures in front of them. Pacific 43 wins 14 losses. 50 wins 23 losses. The 22-year-old has played 25 games of Queensland Cup and has come through the grades at the highly-successful Storm system, but will move to the Dragons in the hopes of securing an NRL spot. never quite able to clinch a first grade starting spot but proving to be a more than capable squad player to call upon when needed. Munster, Brown, Keary, Wighton, Dearden, Luai: Who are the NRL's best 10 five-eighths for season 2023? Ricky Stuart has proven in recent years that he isnt afraid to blood young talent, with the likes of Matt Timoko and Xavier Savage performing admirably during the Raiders run to the finals in 2022. Haele manipulates the ruck really well. When on the field the clubs 2005 Rookie of the Year managed to score 23 tries in just 50 matches. The 21-year-old hooker featured prominently for Newcastle in 2022 in the NSW Cup competition and is signed as a development player for the 2023 campaign. 4 finals 2 wins. On top of that, Ronald Volkman - who was at one stage seen as Sam Walker's long-term partner - was allowed to walk away from the club and join the Warriors mid-way through 2022. E.g. A talented multi-sport athlete, Kobe Rugless joined the Knights last year after coming through the Roosters system as a teenager. 3. With an upgrade to the clubs top 30 and one year to run on his contract with the Cowboys, Price will be hoping to make his presence felt in the NRL this year. Canberra Raiders to field NSW Cup team in 2021 for first time in 14 years By James Buckley Updated January 27 2021 - 10:53pm, first published 9:55pm Josh Papalii, Jack Wighton, Josh Hodgson and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad model the new Raiders kit. Who makes the cut as the best of the best in the number six jersey? Thomson once described his look as the prop that had massive shorts that looked like I was smuggling two wombats down the back of them. Canberra will field a standalone team in this year's NSW Cup competition for the first time in 14 years, solving the problem of how to inject game time into their fringe squad members who were consigned to training scrimmages for the bulk of 2020. At the under-20s level he played halfback for Melbourne, too. Go head to head with other fans to pick your best players and compete in daily NRL fantasy competitions with Draftstars its free to join. 4. Let's address the obvious omission first: what about big Mal? Kevin Beardmore His younger brother Sione has also signed a development deal and is an outside back with plenty of upside. This year, Ive had that experience and I definitely want to take that next step forward and push for a spot in the top 17..thats probably my biggest goal for next year. Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? Cronulla clearly have high hopes for Iro, with the club re-signing him until the end of 2024 and promoting him to their top 30 roster for the next two years. Pinoy Street Party comes alive with Filipino entertainment at OzAsia Festival! Their inclusion in the NSW Cup expands that competition to 11 teams for 2021. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; "We should be very proud of ourselves of what the game can do for Indigenous people.". Stuart Flanagan Ken Nagas: 142 matches (59 tries); 5 Tests for Australia; 2 matches for NSW. Ricky Stuart has proven in recent years that he isn't afraid to blood young talent, with the likes of Matt Timoko and Xavier Savage performing admirably during the Raiders' run to the finals in 2022. One-half of the newly-recruited set of brothers at the Red V, Haele Finau comes to the club with plenty of potential and aspirations of cracking the top grade. A tough hooker or front rower, Beardmore was the first of Canberras English imports. You must provide an email address to create a Roar account, When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address, By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. With an upgrade to the club's top 30 and one year to run on his contract with the Cowboys, Price will be hoping to make his presence felt in the NRL this year. 102 wins 73 losses. After 1992, Wood was only a fill-in, playing no more than five matches in each of his last four seasons with the club. Riki was a prominent fixture in Penrith's NSW Cup premiership-winning side last year, scoring seven tries and averaging 74 run metres per game. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership since 1982. Sam Backo: 110 matches; Dally M Prop of the Year (1988); 6 Tests for Australia; 7 matches for Queensland. The NRL season is rapidly approaching, with plenty of talented young guns pushing to make the jump to first grade in 2023. Despite only playing four senior games for the Canberra Raiders due to an injury that cut his career short, de la Cruz made a huge impact in the NRL, being the first person with Filipino ancestry to play first-grade rugby league. He debuted in first grade the following year and by 2012 had experienced two finals campaigns with the club, taken out two Player of the Year awards and had his name mentioned regularly when rep teams were discussed. Dane Tilse has the record of the most games for the Raiders without playing rep footy and is one of only around a dozen to reach 200 games for a club and not achieve higher honours. So quick, but so injury-prone, David Milne was a talented fullback who played seven seasons for the Raiders from age 17, but only played ten games in a season twice. The Samoan-born prop excelled in NSW Cup in 2022, finishing the year with 25 offloads and over 120 run metres per game for the Raiders. These two players wouldn't have been allowed to leave a successful Roosters system without good cause, and that is why Smith is such a hot prospect heading into next season. 15. After a stellar showing in the Rugby League World Cup, teenage playmaker Isaiya Katoa will be pushing for a spot in the Dolphins side to start next year. 16 tries. Grant tragically died of a heart attack at just 38 and is a member of the clubs Hall of Fame. "There have been a sprinkling of forwards at the Raiders, guys like Lui Bon, Sam Backo, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Joel Thompson, but we've had plenty of outstanding backs as well.". Not since Brett and Josh Morris has there been this much excitement about twin brothers in the NRL. The 20-year-old brothers have already gained experience in the QLD Cup competition for Redcliffe and are long-term prospects that Warriors officials are extremely invested in. Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work An electric outside back with speed to burn, Brennan came to the Raiders in 1994 at the age of 32 and never really recaptured his best form, as injuries restricted him to just eight appearances in three years.
canberra raiders first grade players