FIVE November 1 targets for Canberra Raiders
Who do the Raiders need to chase on November 1?
The Canberra Raiders have long-term security in a number of key players, but still need additions to challenge for a premiership.
That much became evident in 2023.
The team finished in the top eight and showed off plenty of fighting qualities under Ricky Stuart, who also recently extended his contract, but often lacked the killer punch in attack.
With some player turnover likely in the coming years, and big questions over their halves and juniors, 2025 could be something of a moving year for the Raiders.
In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every club and who they should be targetting when a new crop of players become available tpo negotiate with on November 1 ahead of their contracts expiring at the end of 2024.
Current 2025 squad
Zane Dunford, Emre Guler, Corey Harawira-Naera, Albert Hopoate, Corey Horsburgh, Sebastian Kris, Danny Levi, Simi Sasagi, Xavier Savage, Tom Starling, Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko, Kaeo Weekes, Hudson Young
Current 2025 best 17
1. Chevy Stewart
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Sebastian Kris
4. Matthew Timoko
5. Xavier Savage
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Ethan Strange
8. Joseph Tapine
9. Tom Starling
10. Emre Guler
11. Hudson Young
12. Corey Harawira-Naera
13. Corey Horsburgh
14. Simi Sasagi
15. Danny Levi
16. Zane Dunford
17. No player signed.
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Nick Cotric, Jamal Fogarty, Peter Hola, Ata Mariota, Trey Mooney, Josh Papalii (mutual option) Jordan Rapana, Pasami Saulo, James Schiller, Harley Smith-Shields, Elliott Whitehead, Zac Woolford
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
Other clubs
» Brisbane Broncos
Here are five players from outside the club the Raiders should target for 2025.
1. Ezra Mam
The Raiders are likely to need an established five-eighth in 2025. There are some good options on the market too, and who they wind up chasing may well depend on what happens with their halfback spot.
If it’s an experienced figure who can control the kicking game – like the re-signing of Jamal Fogarty which looks increasingly likely – then Ezra Mam is their go-to.
If it’s a young halfback, then a player like Tom Dearden or even Adam Doueihi could indeed be the way to go.
Kaeo Weekes may yet surprise too in the number six – he certainly has the talent to lock down a position in Canberra’s spine, whether that be the six or one. Simi Sasagi is another strong signing.
But there are simply too many ifs, and that means that in a few days time, the Raiders must get on the front foot as they look to replace Jack Wighton.
They have failed to do it for 2024, but can’t afford to go two seasons in that direction. Ezra Mam is the game’s best five-eighth, and the fact he hasn’t re-signed yet suggests he might have a look at the open market.
The Raiders have the money to pull off a move like this and must make a play.
2. Terrell May
One position the Raiders will undoubtedly need re-enforcements in come 2025 is the front-row.
Josh Papalii, while having a mutual option available, seems more and more likely to retire at the end of 2024 all the time, and their back-up brigade, while strong, doesn’t have the depth to cover moving forward.
Emre Guler is yet to prove himself at that level, while there are questions around what the Raiders will do contract-wise with the likes of Peter Hola, Ata Mariota and Trey Mooney.
That said, they are going to need re-enforcements in the middle either way, and Terrell May could be a go-to option for a number of clubs.
He has been excellent for the Roosters since making his debut, impressing with work ethic and drive to succeed in the middle. His power-packed running game would complement what the Raiders already have – Joseph Tapine and Corey Horsburgh – perfectly too. That’s not to say he’d be a walk-up starter at the Raiders, but he would certainly add to the side.
3. Jacob Saifiti
Staying on front rowers, Jacob Saifiti is one of the better options coming off-contract with plenty still to offer at the end of 2024.
Bringing with him to any club the experience of a State of Origin jumper, there are major questions about the Newcastle Knights’ salary cap, and he seems to be one of the likely options on the open market to make a move at the end of 2024.
The Raiders, as mentioned, are going to be a club in need of more players to power the engine room alongside Tapine and Horsburgh, and while Saifiti won’t want to leave brother Daniel, it may be best for his career to generate a fresh start.
He proved exactly what he is capable of at the back-end of 2023, putting up big numbers as the Knights made their surprising march into the finals, and he would be a walk-up starter in the nation’s capital come 2025.
4. Sunia Turuva
Turuva took out the rookie of the year award, and while there is no guarantee he will leave Penrith, he could well be one player who departs simply on the basis of the club not having enough cash in the salary cap.
We all know the salary cap strain of Penrith – winning three premierships will do that.
They have been exceptionally smart to this stage though, letting players walk and paying for those they desperately want to keep – read, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris, Dylan Edwards and Moses Leota among others.
Whether Turuva is viewed as replaceable or not remains to be seen, but the young gun will also have ambitions of playing fullback where he has starred internationally already.
That isn’t going to happen while Dylan Edwards is in front of him.
It may not happen in Canberra either with Chevy Stewart and Xavier Savage seen as the future, but the duo, like Turuva, can both play on the wing as well if need be.
Turuva has taken to the NRL like a duck to water, the same which can’t be said for Savage. He might get there, but in so many ways, Turuva seems like a must target for the Raiders.
5. Shawn Blore
The Raiders are likely to need additional players in the second-row for 2025, but not necessarily as a star player to start. Hudson Young is one of the best in the game, and Corey Harawira-Naera, at his best, walks into most starting sides.
But they certainly need reinforcements on the bench.
Zane Dunford will come into calculations by the time 2025 rolls around, but the retirement of Elliott Whitehead leaves a gaping hole in the rotation.
That is one that can be filled by a player like Shawn Blore. Others that come to mind include Jackson Ford or Brendan Piakura, but Blore may be the best option for Canberra.
He has struggled to stay fit over his career to date, but at his best, has put up some strong performances for the Tigers and could be looking for a way out of Concord where he is stuck behind a crop of forwards purchased by the club ahead of 2023.
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