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Ricky Stuart’s Raiders will need a miracle if they are going to challenge for a premiership in 2015.
Winning just 33 per cent of games in 2014, the struggling roster has since been gutted, fairing worse than any other in the off season trades.
Future superstar Anthony Milford, lightning quick Reece Robinson as well as top-shelf forwards Brett White and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs headline the exodus that also includes the ageing Terry Campese and young forward Lagi Setu.
Frank Paul Nuuausala should prove a handy acquisition along with Melbourne’s Sisa Waqa, but it remains to be seen how the Raiders will fill the gaping void left by young prodigy Milford.
Jack Wighton took over the custodian role in the back end of 2014 and didn’t harm his chances of taking up Milford’s number 1 jumper more permanently.
The club appears set to see a completely new halves combination for 2015, with Blake Austin brought in to cover Campese’s 6 and Sam Williams returning to the club where he made his debut back in 2011.
Stuart will be hoping this new pairing can provide some spark to a team that relied far too heavily on individual brilliance in 2014. Can these two be the miracle Canberra needs?
Zippy winger Edrick Lee, along with their top signing Waqa, will see plenty of speed outside, provided Lee remains injury free.
If so he is an option at both wing and centre – where their stocks are a little less ample.
Jarrod Croker will have enormous pressure on him as the newly ordained Captain and only legitimate centre in Canberra’s line up.
Canberra are always a challenge at home and will no doubt again claim some big scalps, particularly during the frosty winter months.
But I can’t see them stringing together enough quality performances to challenge the other teams this year.
Due to their well-publicised recruitment failures, if the Raiders are any chance of delivering a decent season they are going to need some of their young players to really stand up. A 13th place in the NYC cup however lends little credence to this outcome.
A bright spot on the radar for Raiders fans should be young Lachlan Croker, the 18-year-old nephew of Jason Croker.
Lachlan has already represented NSW in under 18s and been selected in the NSW Origin Pathways Camp. A halfback or five-eighth, Lachlan possesses a cool head, silky skills and a last name that should have the Raiders hopeful salivating.
2014 finish: 15th
2015 prediction: 16th
Ins:
Sisa Waqa – Storm
Sam Williams – Catalans Dragons
Blake Austin – Wests Tigers
Iosia Soliola – St Helens
Frank-Paul Nuuausala – Roosters
Josh Hodgson – Hull KR
Rhys Kennedy – StormOuts:
Anthony Milford – Broncos
Reece Robinson – Eels
Lagi Setu – Roosters
Terry Campese – Hull KR
Brett White – retired
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs – Storm
Sami Sauiluma – Sharks
Matt Allwood – Warriors
Matt McIlwrick – Roosters
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