“We can’t wait”: Raiders drop cryptic clue on Corey Harawira-Naera’s return

The forward suffered a scary medical incident on field last year.

The Canberra Raiders have seemingly confirmed forward Corey Harawira-Naera will be fit to return at the start of the 2024 NRL season.

The power-packet forward played just nine games during the 2023 campaign before suffering a scary medical effort during Round 13 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The incident, which saw the game stopped for a number of minutes, saw the forward on the ground convulsing before he was taken off the field in a medicab and then to hospital. He had regained consciousness by that point.

It was revealed post-game that Harawira-Naera had suffered a seizure, although there was no clarity provided as to why immediately afterwards.

Harawira-Naera made a quick recovery and was discharged from hospital, but didn’t play another game for the remainder of the season.

The Raiders, however, took to Twitter/X earlier this week, seeming to suggest the forward is now fit and ready to return for the 2024 campaign.

a reduced role in three appearances off the bench, and then was absent from first-grade for three weeks.

The game against South Sydney marked his return in Round 13, and was his first starting appearance in the second-row for the season.

He will likely start 2024 behind Elliott Whitehead and Hudson Young for spots on the edge, while Corey Horsburgh has locked up the number 13 jersey, however, Whitehead’s impending retirement at the end of the season could see Harawira-Naera move back into an increasing role for Ricky Stuart’s side during 2025.

The forward is on contract with Canberra until at least the end of 2025, and has a player option in his favour for 2026.

Raiders to embark on tour of NZ through support of Raiders Foundation

After a successful inaugural NRLW season, Canberra Raiders representatives will this week travel to New Zealand to deliver a series of skill clinics in schools and local clubs through the support of the Raiders Foundation.

Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick, NRLW players Simaima Taufa, Zahara Temara and Grace Kemp as well as Raiders Board Member Katrina Fanning will spend time in New Zealand visiting schools, running clinics and participating in Q and A’s to help showcase their program, players and pathways space.

For co-captain Simaima Taufa, the opportunity to go back to New Zealand and to help inspire young players was one she couldn’t pass up. Taufa has a week off before going back into Jillaroos camp to prepare for their upcoming match against the Kiwi Ferns, but said she didn’t want to miss the chance to give back to the community.

“This club means so much to me. I grew up in New Zealand, and to be able to go back and run clinics and be able to put our brand out there and to speak to young girls that would’ve never thought that this is an opportunity for them is special,” Taufa said.

“There’s no Warriors team in the NRLW but if we can inspire these young girls to do whatever they want in life whether that’s to pick up a footy and play or to be in the coaching staff or just to be a fan of our game and be a fan of the Canberra Raiders is an exciting opportunity for us girls to not only fill our cup in giving back to the community but also helping these young girls be inspired to be more than what they are capable of.”

After an outstanding debut season, Grace Kemp is also looking forward to heading over to New Zealand and to help uncover talent.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity and I think after the season we had it’s great to be able to give back to the club,” Kemp said.

“They’ve given us so much and to be able to give this opportunity everything that we’ve got and to be backed by the Foundation means a lot to us and we can’t wait to get over there and see the talent they’ve got on show.”

Raiders NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick says the chance to take both co-captains and one of the emerging stars in Grace Kemp is exciting.

“The opportunity to take a few of our NRLW players over and spread the word about our brand and what we’re doing in the pathways space is exciting,” Borthwick said.

“I’m looking forward to getting over there and spreading our brand out there and showcasing our players.”

The tour is being backed by the Raiders Foundation, with Foundation Manager Paul Walshe saying that the program is an important one to support.

“The Foundation itself has been around since 2019 and it’s about growing the ongoing success of the club both on and off the field so this is a component that the Foundation had no issue in supporting,” Walshe said.

“We think it’s going to be great for our women’s program, to continue to grow our women’s program here at the Raiders and to also make a difference to young men and women who are part of the Raiders family.”