Last year the Canberra Raiders were lampooned for their inability to attract star players to the club.
Ricky Stuart missed his man four times, failing to secure the signatures of Michael Ennis, James Tedesco, Josh Mansour and Kevin Proctor.
Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
So Stuart took a different path – rather than trying to sign established stars, he signed players bursting with potential, with the intention of turning them into stars.
We are only a third of the way through the season, but early indications show the faith in the new Canberra recruits has been well placed. Canberra are currently holding the title of best buys of the season.
Every one of the Raiders’ new recruits has made a valuable contribution to the team.
Blake Austin has been a revelation at five-eighth. He looks dangerous every time he gets his hands on the ball and seems to be getting better with every game. The big man has the ability to step off both feet and so far this season he has racked up five tries, four try assists, eight line breaks and 33 tackle breaks (the most of any half).
Iosia Soliola is an 80-minute monster who has been battering opposing teams into submission with and without the ball. The second row/lock is averaging 109 metres and 29 tackles a game, he’s been a reliable workhorse for the team. He’s also got two tries to his name, and has created plenty of opportunities for his teammates, with 12 tackle breaks and six offloads.
English hooker Josh Hodgson has added some spark at dummy half. He has been helping his teammates break through the opposition line, or doing it himself with three try assists, four line break assists, nine tackle busts, seven offloads and a try.
Since halfback Sam Williams has been in the team, the Raiders have won four of their last five games, and lost a close one to competition heavyweights Melbourne Storm. In those five games Williams has produced five try assists and bagged one for himself. He has also shown incredible toughness to continue playing with a collapsed lung in the Raiders’ big 56-16 win over the Titans in Round 9.
Human wrecking ball Frank-Paul Nu’uausala has provided some serious impact off the bench. Playing 41 minutes a game, he’s averaging 91 metres – the most in his career.
Sisa Waqa has provided the Raiders with another strike weapon out wide. He’s made four line breaks, eight tackle busts, fourteen offloads (the most of any centre/winger) and scored three tries.
*All stats correct as of round 9.
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