Rugby league fans know that a team’s spine is crucial in creating success. Glory in September is near impossible a strong unit of key playmakers. With that being said, it’s time to take a look at each club’s spine and rank them from best to worst ahead of the 2019 season.
Kicking things off in 16th place is the Canberra Raiders. Sorry to say it Green Machine fans, but it looks like it could be a long season ahead in the Nation’s Capital for Ricky Stuart’s men. Key player departures, positional changes and inexperience have left the Raiders with what looks to be a largely unsettled spine.
Pressure will be on their experienced playmakers to produce their best form consistently if the 2016 preliminary finalists are to return to finals football. Let’s take a closer look at the make-up of Ricky Stuart’s spine this season.
Fullback: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
The late off-season recruit has turned plenty of heads since arriving in Canberra in early February. So much so that club captain Jarrod Croker has all but confirmed the fleet-footed former Warrior will be lining up in the No.1 jersey this season ahead of Jack Wighton’s shift to five-eighth.
Nicoll-Klokstad’s limited time in first grade has left little doubt over his clear athleticism and natural talent. His size, speed and explosive agility is enough to get any Canberra fan excited about their new kid on the block.
With that being said, Nicoll-Klokstad did not play any first-grade football last year and has only played seven games in the top grade to date, all of which were on the wing in 2017.
Despite his obvious talent and potential, it is a huge risk for Ricky Stuart to hand the custodian responsibilities to a young player who is yet to play a single first-grade game at fullback, possibly leaving Canberra vulnerable in this position.
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Five-eighth: Jack Wighton
The departure of Blake Austin to the Warrington Wolves has left the Raiders’ No.6 jersey vacant. Although Canberra have a number of players who have played most of their football in the halves on their roster, such as Sam Williams and Ata Hingano, Ricky Stuart looks set to hand incumbent fullback Jack Wighton the first opportunity at five-eighth.
Although Wighton has been a consistently good performer for Canberra in recent season, almost all of his football has been played at fullback. Ricky Stuart has previously experimented with Wighton at five-eighth, playing him in the No.6 for only a handful of games in 2014.
Strong carries with ball in hand have been a main feature of Wighton’s game, however he has not been renowned as one of the ball-paying fullbacks of the competition and is yet to showcase a kicking game in general play.
Hence, there are big question marks over whether the local junior’s game is best suited to a role in the halves. Either way, it is likely it will take Wighton some time to adjust to his new position.
Jack Wighton (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Halfback: Aidan Sezer
Aidan Sezer is well and truly in the hot seat in season 2019. There will be added responsibility heaped on his shoulders as the only genuine half in the Raiders line-up, while being surrounded by less experienced players in other key positions.
It is evident that the responsibility to steer the Raiders around the park will be placed upon the former Titan, as well as the bulk of general play kicking.
It is a big ask for a playmaker that has not consistently reached his best form since Canberra’s stellar season of 2016. Sezer’s ability to handle this extra responsibility will have a significant bearing on whether his team can end their two-year stint outside the top eight.
Hooker: Josh Hodgson
English dynamo Josh Hodgson has consistently proven that he is one of the elite hookers in the competition since arriving from Hull KR in 2015. While he was recovering from an ACL injury, his absence from the opening half of the 2018 season was obvious and left a gaping hole in the Raiders’ spine.
His ability to manipulate opposition defenders through constant scheming around the ruck, clever kicking game and tireless defensive work rate is irreplaceable.
He is clearly the leading light among the Raiders’ playmakers this season, but it remains to be seen whether the efforts diminutive Englishman will be enough to send his team up the competition ladder in 2019.
zimbler
Guest
This article has aged well HAHAHA.
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
Thank you! One of my favourite things is to read "expert" opinion after the fact. It's so funny to see what they said and compare their words with the reality. Very funny! Thanks again.
Ron Norton
Roar Rookie
Obviously none of you self-acclaimed 'experts' have seen Round 1 2019. A few members of the Raiders' spine might have you eating your words before the 2019 season is over. Agree Sezer needs to step up, but he was good against the Titans, in deplorable conditions that would have tested any number 7 in the NRL, even some of our past greats.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Clifford is untried, Granville hasn't recaptured the form from earlier in the year, Morgan is coming back from a serious injury and Martin hasn't really proven himself at NRL level. They may not be the worst but they aren't great
Taree Raider
Guest
Its the kicking game/game management which is easily controlled by a very good halfback. When was the last time the Raiders got a repeat set by trapping the opposition in goal, or a 40/20 or a good kick to the other end of the field away from the back three. This is the problem. I agree that defence is an issue, but the point of having a blistering attack is that the Roosters, Storm type attacking teams, can't defend against it without blatantly being offside or wrestling excessively. That is the only way they can counter offloads & rapid ball movement down the ground. The Raiders will never be able to defend like the Roosters or Storm, but they can out attack them. That is the point. If we had a competent kicking game (high quality halfback) who could manage field position that would enhance the team much more than a defence focused approach. Attack works. Look at 2016. No team can defend a constantly changing attack. I have stated my views on Wighton over and over. I am reliably told that he is on about 800K per year. Imagine the half you could buy with that money.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hi Taree - I think I'm as frustrated by you at the lack of success at the Raiders and agree that Sezer and possibly Ricky are at the root of our problems. Ricky has done his best to assemble a competitive squad but there have been some issues in closing out games from winnable positions last season that have needed to be addressed. The attack is not the problem - its the defence and ability to close out games. The spine has two players that have potential but are unproven (CNK and Wighton), a bloke who is experienced but has underperformed (Sezer) and world class player (Hodgson). I'd wait a couple of months in into the season before sticking the boots in.
The Sponge
Roar Rookie
Not sure about the FB but Rake is world class. HB has definately not lived up to expectations and needs to run the ball way way more (like J Maloney). He couldn't have been more impressive when a young Titan and I expected much much more. The FB experiment with Jack W did not work and he may develop into a super 5/8th because he looked all class as a kid in centres. If Aiden can run the ball it will significantly improve whole spine in my opinion.
Taree Raider
Guest
Seze & Stuart are the only problems that Canberra have. Last night I watched a replay of round 10 last year against the Sharks in Canberra. This game was a great insight into Sezer's flaws. His kicking game was terrible, there was not one repeat set, no 40/20, he kicked it out on the full, he kicked it straight to the back three, Once Holmes caught it without moving, he then ran 80m to score under the posts. Not once did he put in what you could call an effective kick. It was startling to sit back & watch. In attack he just passed the ball, generally well before the line. He was totally hopeless. It was an insight that I don't have when I watch a game live, because I always live in hope & forgive mistakes, hoping something better will happen. Sezer is not to NRL standard for a half. You could only imagine what Cronk, Maloney, Townsend, Pearce or any other competent No. 7 could do to this side. Imagine building continual pressure through an efficient kicking game. One where the ball hits the ground away from the receiving player, a kick where you get a repeat set, building continual pressure. Imagine in attack having a half who could not only create space for others, but was a threat of running himself. All these attributes that a Mr Ricky Stuart exhibited as a player, but for some reason HE can't identify the talent & develop these qualities. Sezer had plenty of potential when he came to the Raiders, he has gone backwards ever since. Is it just that he never really had it or is it the COACH. (Both I suspect) Obviously Ricky can't coach the halfback, what hope is there for any other position? Ricky & Sezer have both had their time. In Ricky's only successful year at the Raiders 2016, attack was king. It won more games than they lost, there was an impossible point of difference to every other side. No defence would set up & remain efficient against an attack which was totally unpredictable & ever changing. The only thing that beat them was Edric Lee dropped the ball. That's it. Plus the fact that Ricky never pressured the NRL through the media the fact that the opposition come semi final time were continually offside, so as to stifle the attack. So what does Ricky do in 2017, he comes out in 2017 & says. We have to concentrate on our defence. First trial game against Newcastle 40/0 loss. That worked. Let's play like every other NRL team & focus on defence. Ignore the fact that your own style of attack focus worked. Wayne Bennett openly stated that he hated coming up against the Raiders in 2016. No Ricky knew best? 10th in 2017 & 2018 showed that his defensive ideas were consistent. Consistently bad. Here's an idea Ricky you flip. Base our game around what should have won us the comp in 2016. ATTACK. I remember what it was like in 2016, you'd watch the games hoping that we would have a go & be competitive but suddenly we started to win & win often. Every week it just kept building, if we did get beat it was didn't matter because we were always in with a chance. As a fan I loved every minute of it. Even when we lost the preliminary final. I wasn't distraught. I just thought next year. After all it will be the same team. How wrong I was. Unfortunately while ever Ricky steers the ship we will remain a top ten side. Ricky is no doubt a very passionate, decent human being. Its just that he is not a coaches arse. How many times do you get to under achieve. This is a results driven elite sport, where huge amounts of money are spent with winning as the goal. As a fan I don't demand a premiership. I just want my team to be the best that they can be. If they play to their strengths & do the best they can, I'm happy. If they have obvious weaknesses, fix them. The Raiders as a club only have two real weaknesses. Sezer & Stuart. As a fan I demand that they be replaced.
xaun
Roar Rookie
The burden wont be on Wighton to set up and run general play, this will fall to Seizer and Hodgson. His job will be to simply run holes and be a rock in defence.
xaun
Roar Rookie
What many forget is that Wighton started his career in the centres very quickly became one of the exceptional defensive players in that position. Bringing him into the line will add a level of starch to the edge and fill those playing outside of him with confidence. Austin was a liability last year and leaked more points than he produced. Hodgson plays a lot like an additional half and so i'm expecting Wighton to simply be a ball running 5/8.
Adam
Roar Guru
I tended to blame Austin for a lot of Sezer's issues. And it probably didn't help with Hodgson out injured for so long last year either
Larry1950
Guest
Just looking again: Tigers- Mymbe/Brooks/Reynolds/Farah ( back up Marshall & Liddle) Bulldogs-Meaney/Lewis/Foran/Lichaa (back up Marshall-King You'd have to give that one to the Tigers just, because Meaney's done nothing, Foran can hardly run & Lichaa was shopped around, cut then reprieved. If the Eels go with Gutherson/Brown/Moses/Mahoney they're in for a season of pain. Moses is one of those hyped guys who just get wraps because everyone else does their grafting work.
Larry1950
Guest
Gee's Adam, bit tough on the Cowboys there. Clifford (qld U20 SoO winning half) or TM Martin, Michael Morgan (Meninga's first choice international), Granville (shadow Qld SoO hooker)& Kahu (NZ international). I reckon all but Granville would get a walk up start at the raiders any day & Granville has won a GF so arguably he's as good as Hodgson. They may have had a down year in 2018 but circumstances for them with injuries made it hard along with the Thurston farewell circus. In 2017 they made the GF against the odds with Morgan & Granville featuring and ran into a red hot Storm after spending their tickets getting there. Fair enough, the Eels are rubbish, Tigers a mix of too hyped or too old & Bulldogs inexperienced or injury prone, depending who they pick. Both lack depth but you're hard on the Cowboys. I look at it like this, would you swap yours for theirs and the Raiders would swap at least 2 & likely 3 if Wighton was only considered as a 5/8 in the swap.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The Eels, Cowboys, Tigers and Bulldogs all have far worse spines than the Raiders, although outside of Josh Hodgson there isn’t much
Wayne Turner
Guest
Parra "wins" for the worst spine. Moses - hahaha. Who is the hooker? Who is fullback? And a rookie 5/8.
Adam Dante
Guest
Hi Randy. It really is apples and oranges with 2014 and 2019 regarding Wighton . Wighton has developed so much since his 2014 stint. Does it mean he will be successful in 2019 , time will tell but he is more equipped to handle it this time. A fading Campo at halfback wasn't ideal either .
RandyM
Guest
Lewis looks good and yes i would have him at 6 for the Raiders. Wighton does have a bit of a passing game but Stuart already tried him at 5/8 when he first arrived at the club and he looked lost.
Zac Haig
Roar Rookie
Hey mate, thanks for the feedback! Current plan is to do a series of articles running through each side in depth, rather than ranking them all in the one article, so stay tuned for more to come and some analysis on the other team!
Larry1950
Guest
RandyM, I reckon Lewis would walk into the raiders spine at 5/8 so not so sure on the Bulldogs comparison. Sight on has never seemed to have the vision to set up play from fullback, great gap runner that he is, and seems to lack a passing game. That's probably going to get found out when he's got less time before the defensive line. I reckon Sezer hasn't gone forward in the last 3 years & looks more suited to the English super league. Hodgson is their shining light but it's a big burden.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Like wise on Sezer Baz. I was really looking forward to him coming to the club after what he achieved at the Gold Coast but he hasn't really delivered. And I'm not really sure why. I've said elsewhere that Austin and Hodgson may have cramped his style in the past couple of seasons but he shouldn't have any excuses this year with a new 5/8 in Wighton. Hodgson has class but there are times that he takes too much on and tries plays that probably aren't on or aren't necessary when you are trying to ice a game. This new spine combination could be really good or really bad. Guess we won't know until 6 or 8 weeks in to the season. Pretty ballsy move by Ricky really. His coaching future is pretty much tied to how successful these moves are. He has Sam Williams and Ato Hingano in reserve if things go pear shaped but by then it may be too late.