The Canberra Raiders will once again approach an NRL season as one of the teams expected to attain the wooden spoon, but a closer look at their roster, however, suggests the Green Machine have all the parts necessary to fight for a place in the top eight.
Despite finishing last year in 13th position, Raiders coach David Furner should have the right to feel very optimistic about his sides chances of making the finals this season.
Rising stars Josh Dugan, Daniel Vidot and Travis Waddell headline the latest batch of home grown talent in the nation’s capital, with all three expected to play key roles in Canberra’s bid to yet again prove the doubters wrong.
In his few games of first grade in 2009, Dugan has established himself as one of the NRL’s most promising fullbacks in years, and was arguably the cornerstone for some of the Raiders more impressive wins against teams such as the Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Knights.
On the flanks, Daniel Vidot has already become accustomed to finding the try line, scoring six four pointers in just eight appearances so far for the Raiders.
Hooker Travis Waddell also experienced a strong start to his NRL career last season, with the 20 year being rewarded with selection in the Indigenous All Stars team several weeks ago.
Indeed Waddell’s effort for the Indigenous All Stars will only build the skill and confidence of a player that will provide key figures Terry Campese and Marc Herbert with terrific service out of dummy half.
While the majority of Canberra’s fortunes will undoubtedly lay on the shoulders of Campese, rising stars such as Dugan, Vidot and Waddell should ensure that attacking responsibilities within the side are more evenly shared than in previous seasons.
Having one of the more impressive forward packs at your disposal will only help the Raiders bid to secure a finals spot.
Origin and Test stars David Shillington, Tom Learoyd-Lars and Bronson Harrison form a formidable combination upfront, with each player blessed with the ability to offload and make the yardage necessary to allow the likes of Campese and Dugan to weave their magic.
Throw in hardworking forwards such as Alan Tongue, Dane Tilse, Scott Logan and Troy Thompson and one can see the green machine do have the personnel necessary upfront to challenge the bigger packs in the NRL.
As always, the injury curse seems to have found a permanent home in the nation’s capital, and it has once again wrecked havoc on the Raiders preparations for the start of this season.
NSW Origin representative Joel Monaghan has already suffered a broken thumb during the pre-season, and is expected to miss the opening five matches.
Indeed it is the last thing coach David Furner would have wanted for a Raiders team which has constantly had its premiership aspirations torn apart by injury early on in the campaign.
One hopes Monaghan is the last significant injury worry Canberra have this season, because at full strength, the Green Machine have the right mix of hardworking and exciting players to really give a good account of themselves.
With a somewhat reasonable draw which includes the Panthers, Broncos, Titans and Tigers in the opening month of season 2010, they have every opportunity to start well and really shed the tag as constant fancies for the wooden spoon.
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