You might have heard the Canberra Raiders are officially the first NRL club back in training. Yes indeed, they were assembled by coach Ricky Stuart last Monday. And I swear I heard a few sniggers from league-land.
Foolish people.
I’m confidently tipping the Green Machine will be back in the black next year and the more time they have together, the better combinations they will form.
Season 2015 was essentially a good one for a club in a serious and much-needed rebuilding phase.
They finished 10th but when you look back, there were too many close losses – especially at home – that decided their fate.
Some could label them losers, but it was all part of a learning process for a young team heading for exciting times in 2016 and beyond.
Take a good look at the Raiders’ roster now that the likes of Aidan Sezer, Adam Clydsdale and Jeff Lima have been included. It’s better than solid. It is downright dangerous.
Pitch these players in alongside Jack Wighton, Josh Papalii, Jarrod Croker, Blake Austin, Josh Hodgson, Shaun Fensom, Shannon Boyd, Paul Vaughan and Jarrad Kennedy and you’ve got one heck of a roster.
Hodgson was as good as any No. 9 in the comp last year and Vaughan is looking more like a State of Origin footballer at every outing. Yes, it’s a good roster, so good in my view that ‘unfashionable’ Canberra can climb to number five or even higher in the coming season.
There are quality players in the national capital I haven’t even mentioned. Sam Williams, for example, went really well at halfback this past season and mightn’t even be a starter in the early games of 2016.
Sezer, the former Gold Coast star, will prove to be a mighty asset and one would think that Stuart will be trying to pair him with the brilliant Austin, a popular choice as the Dally M five-eighth of the year.
That leaves the gifted Williams on the outer, but he says he is more than ready for a fight and Canberra can be the only winner.
Raiders’ fans should be highly excited about their team’s prospects.
There are a number of state and Test-standard players in the mix for 2016 and then there is the Raiders’ famed junior nursery which has half a dozen or so gun prospects itching for a shot at the NRL.
Winning games on home soil was a trademark of the champion Canberra teams of the 1980s and ’90s. If the Raiders can rectify this problem for 2016, they’ll be right in contention come September and October.
If you can snaffle some decent odds on a Canberra Raiders run – get on now. The jolly green jigsaw puzzle is taking shape fast.
Mat D
Guest
Nup, The Cowboys, Broncos, Roosters, and Storm are in a far different league than the Raiders. Even the improving Cronulla Sharks and The Warriors with their new signings are daylight away from Ricky's mob. The signings that the Raiders have made are very good players but they are not extraordinary or anything really special to really lift them much further from where they ended up this year. Ricky's emotion and passion for his job are fine. That's him. He was a sensational player, but that hasn't made him a great coach. The Raiders don't have the greatest facilities for training as per the more high profile teams. Besides living in Canberra is more of a punishment than an incentive. I've done that and it can be very much like Rookwood on a rainy day. The Raiders will start well and be up there with the best for a while but I just don't see that lasting for 26 rounds. I'm just hoping that when the Raiders lose, Ricky doesn't approach the media conference with his "take the ball home and cry" attitude. Just my opinion based on what I've seen. The competition has developed into an elite top 6 teams despite where they ended up last year. It's The Cowboys, Broncos, Roosters, Storm, Manly ( despite their slow start ), perhaps The Doggies or Souths . Then there's a big gap. But, anything can happen and we should see some real improvers in 2016. Penrith would have been up there with the Warriors and Sharkies but the sacking of Cleary is questionable. The Dragons will be out to build on an ok finish to their season. The Tigers, Titans, Eels and Knight's are a worry ??? Anyway, it will be a great season in 2016 an everything now is just speculation. I just have this gut feeling though that we could just seen a repeat of this years Grand Final next October, and just maybe The Cowboys will be the first team to go back to back after many a year.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
But it's not Player X captained his team to a GF victory. It's player X and Y who captained the team. Same way it's coach X and Y. It goes in its own bracket because it's a partnership. Just my opinion.
pete bloor
Guest
Why doesn't it count? If you're Co captain you're still captain?
Casper
Guest
Hey Tim, reckon assessing them struggling into the eight isn't non-constructive. Be a few clubs around who would take that now. They've got a good pack but the unknown is how big young forwards will handle the new interchange. Have always had a soft spot for the raiders because of the Qld contingent in their early days. Not convinced Ricky can get them up consistently but will bookmark for next September. My improver would have been Penrith but not with hook in charge, can't fathom that sacking.
Greg
Guest
Ricky didn't have the same players at the Raiders. He did however take over from Bennett and had the same Australian team.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Bennett's time at the Raiders doesn't count. He was Co-coach. Regardless of who actually did the coaching.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
most teams back up hooks are better than Clydesdale. Didn't they sign a promising backrower from Wigan? His name escapes me at the moment.
pete bloor
Guest
Bennett won 61% with the Raiders pretty sure Ricky is a touch shy of that number
Casper
Guest
Never meant as a sledge, just the pre-season optimism of club supporters. I never accused you of being on something like Kevin D did?
Greg
Guest
Ricky has also won a State of Origin series, something Bellamy failed to do in 3 attempts......he also has a higher winning % than Wayne Bennett when in charge of the same team - the Kangaroos. If anyone says Ricky was handed a premiership winning team at the Roosters then why didn't his predecessor win a comp? If you think Ricky was handed a premiership then by the same logic you must also agree he was handed a wooden spoon at the Eels. Ricky also took the Sharks to equal first on the ladder, the man can coach.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Raiders made big strides forward in 2015 but is there that much improvement left in them. Sezer is s quality player but I wouldn't be trumpeting about Clydesdale and Lima. Journeymen plonkers at best. The raiders didn't really cut the mustard this year and they had a pretty good run with injuries for most of the season. I think they're one of the most entertaining sides to watch so I hope they do well but for mine I think a 7th or 8th finish is probably as good as they can hope for.
Gaz
Roar Rookie
And on the flip side if any of these gentlemen had coached the raiders would they have finished further up the ladder. If so therein lies your problem.
Greeneyedpete
Guest
Well said Tim . The Raiders are an easy mark for the ( expert ) knockers , probably disgruntled shakies or squeelers . Wether you like him or not Ricky has passion & yes knows how to win a premiership & before the ( experts ) say he had a premiership side handed to him . The same can be said for Robinson McGuire & Bennett .
Mathew Shaw
Guest
I think they did well last year for the most part, this year should be much better, with Sezer and Elliott Whitehead who could be an amazing add to our already talented forwards.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Casper, I offered you an opinion. Naturally, what I've predicted may or may not prove accurate. Maybe keep this column somewhere in your computer and produce it in September next year. I have made many predictions here on this site that have proved one hundred per cent accurate but at the time, the naysayers have jumped out of the woodwork to suggest I'm off with the fairies or quaffing some high octane substance. You mentioned rose-coloured glasses. Why begin your comment with a sledge? I've had a good look at Canberra's playing group which looks considerably stronger than last year. Sezer had an injury this year so he is suddenly 'injury-prone.' He played 18 games after making his Titans top grade debut in 2012. He played 22 the following year, 13 in 2014 (torn pectoral muscle) and 18 this year. You're a hard marker. Lima and Clydesdale will not be considered starters in the Raiders' senior team but they'll be more than capable replacements if injuries occur. You need depth to finish in the upper reaches of the NRL. You agree that Vaughan looks to be an Origin prospect and then take a pot shot at coach Stuart before branding me an optimist. It seems clear that you cannot see that the Raiders have assembled a good roster and the fact they are training already for 2016, suggests they mean business. I'll cop criticism or argue my point to the best of my ability but is there even a remote chance of making your criticism constructive?
Casper
Guest
Rose coloured glasses Tim? Couple of good recruits but Sezer is injury prone, Lima hasn't done much yet and Clydesdale has a long way to go to be a regular first grader. Vaughan may look a future origin forward, but only a NSW one which is no great boast. They still have to manage the 'Ricky' coaching factor. Maybe struggle into eight, not higher. October is a great month for optimism.
Robert The Bruce
Guest
I really want them to go back their old patch too, won three premierships under that badge, The NRL in general seems to have little respect for its heritage as far as aesthetics go..
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
The best signing the Raiders made is not listed here. Elliott Whitehead. He will be a Gareth Ellis style signing for Canberra. Big, strong and fast. Very good defensive back rower who is a wonderful hole runner. @ The Verdict, this could be the bloke to solve some of those defensive lapses too. Will make a strong back row rotation with Soliola, Fensom and Papalli.
Peter Mc
Guest
Definately has his heart in the right place but way too intense to get the best out of a group of young blokes no matter how talented they may be.
The Verdict
Guest
What are the Raiders going to do to fix their awful defence?