How my pre-season Raiders prediction was vindicated

Well, well, well. It appears it is time for a good old fashioned ‘I told you so’.

In February this year I wrote an article predicting the Canberra Raiders would finish the 2016 NRL regular season in the top four. I also wrote why the Warriors and Sea Eagles would not do so, but that is a story for another day.

Now, if you look back at the comments you will find about 90 per cent of people vehemently disagreeing with me, with some even going so far as to call me delusional, one-eyed, and implying I was simply a fan tooting the horn of my club with a bit of preseason excitement.

In light of all the recent praise and adulation for the Raiders (a lot of it coming from the preseason naysayers), it will be my pleasure to list each of my positional ‘predictions’ and analysis with an explanation of whether it turned out to be correct or incorrect.

Fullback – correct
While Jack Wighton had a few clangers in the first half of the season, one of which could be argued was the reason for a loss to St George Illawarra, the second half of his season has been outstanding.

His fullback defensive play is the envy of every other fullback, and his ball playing has come on in leaps and bounds, while his running game remains as strong as ever.

Wingers – correct
People told me that Jordan Rapana was not even a first grade quality winger because of his apparently suspect defence, but this man has come on to become the best winger in rugby league in 2016.

Sisa Waqa did not play a first grade game in 2016, but Edrick Lee continued to be a safe, above average winger when uninjured, and has a great knack of staying in the field of play when in tight situations.

Centres – definitely correct
Jarrod Croker and BJ Leilua have been the undisputed best centre combination in the NRL in 2016.

Croker is, statistically speaking, one of the best defensive centres in the competition, and Leilua has become the most dangerous centre in the game, with both players able to create chances from anywhere in the field.

It is also worth mentioning that Jarrod Croker scored almost as many points as the entire Newcastle Knights team this year.

Halves – correct
It took them a while to gel, but in the second half of the season it really clicked for Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer. While their influence may not have been immediately apparent, the Raiders scored 688 points this season, with the second highest scoring team being the Cowboys, at 584.

You have to give the halves some credit for the team being one try a game better than the next best attacking team.

Props – incorrect
Shannon Boyd has really developed this year, as have Luke Bateman and Clay Priest, and Junior Paulo has joined the club mid-season and has been fantastic. However, the rest of my analysis on the props fell short.

Frank Paul-Nuuausala was abysmal before departing for the English Super League. Paul Vaughan is back in the side and a great player, but has been by his own admission, rather poor this year and not up to his usual high standards. Jeff Lima was an excellent bench prop in the matches he played, but injury has restricted his chances in 2016.

Hooker – Correct
I argued that Josh Hodgson was among the top three hookers in the game, but in a recent Daily Telegraph fan poll he was voted the number three player in the game overall. If not for a suspension, would almost be a certainty for the Dally M medal, and could still win it regardless.

Back row – correct
Arguable the best back row in the competition this year, though there is some very stiff competition. Josh Papalii has become one of the most damaging back rowers in the game, while Elliot Whitehead has shown a valuable mixture of attacking nous and defensive grit.

Sia Soliola continues to perform any necessary role in the back row, and does it well. Joe Tapine joined the team in 2016 and is developing very well, showing he has a lot of potential for the future.

Reserves – correct
Kurt Baptiste has become a vital piece of the Raiders machine, routinely pushing one of the best hookers in the game into a different position for large parts of matches. Adam Clydesdale provides adequate cover and has done his job well, though Lachlan Croker had an unhappy debut and has had to face more injury woes, cruelling his chances to prove his talent at an NRL level.

Overall – correct
My claim in the preseason was that the Canberra Raiders had one of the best overall squads in the competition, and this was proven correct. After finishing the regular season in second place, my next prediction is that the Raiders will finish the competition proper in second place or better. Does anyone dare to say otherwise?