BY DAN

It seems as though Lachlan Lam may actually be coming to Canberra.

Update: The Canberra Times is now reporting the Raiders aren’t interested. Let’s take their word for it, but also recognise that might be dancing about a transfer fee.

Fox NRL is reporting that Lam is returning to the fold NRL, after his coach and father Adrian Lam revealed the current Leigh Leopard would only be at the club for “a short time” so he can prepare for a return to the NRL. The Raiders have continued to be the only team linked with Lam over this season, basically from the the moment Jack Wighton announced he was leaving for (dark) greener pastures. It’s not hard to put two and two together and hoping you come up with a baker’s threesome.

If the Raiders do pursue and acquire Lam it increasingly feels like a smart bit of work, given their inability to acquire a top-level half. Lam has by all accounts had a good season in the Super League. While no sane person would think those competitions are comparable, there is a certain logic to young halves going overseas to expand their skill base away from the bright lights and highly structured NRL and coming home more complete footy players. Lam has plenty of on-field utility, having filled in, and around, the star halves that the Roosters have kept in their locker over the years. There were moments it looked like he’d be one of the chosen ones, and while getting the Roosters talent run-off sounds a bit gross, there’s an intelligence to picking up a highly-touted talent about to enter his prime.

On the field I think he’d be a good match with Jamal Fogarty, able to fill in on the left side as happily as he would on the right. He’s agile and fast, at least for Super League, and while he won’t be able to athletically dominate in the NRL as he would in England, it’s plenty of proof he won’t struggle in that facet in the top line (as say, for example, Fratt Mawley did). He’s also comfortable ball-playing at the line, something the club has needed in recent years. The below clip is a few years old, but reveals smart work in identifying a weakness in the defence (in this case a slow and retreating A defender) and engaging the line to take advantage.

Given the Raiders had one of the lowest levels of line-engagement by their halves in the entire competition last season this kind of skill will be very much needed. He should also add a more consistent kicking option than Jack Wighton, which should take some pressure of Fogarty as the sole boot in the spine.

It’s also smart strategic risk mitigation if the Raiders can get it done. Ethan Strange is reportedly the future of the club at six but assuming that you can just plonk him in the top-line at 18 and he’ll succeed for the next ten years is a naivete that would make a toddler raise an eye brow. Having options has proven the mantra this off-season (see the acquisition of Weekes, Kaeo). Lam has the most NRL experience of any non-Fogarty player that may play in the halves this year and has proven his ability to be the lead organiser and creator of a footy team.

He’s not just good risk mitigation for Strange, but also backup for Fogarty, should an injury be suffered. Fogarty is not made of titanium, and with the departure over recent years of all their backup ‘game managers’ it makes plenty of sense to get an emerging one, at least until the Ethan Sanders affair resolves itself. It does make one wonder why the same opportunity wasn’t afforded to Brad Schneider, but it does seem the club took the red pen to his name.

We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. While Canberra were the only team seriously linked to him (as well as the Knights, but they have about 17 halves for next season) it’s not out of the realms of possibility that this abrupt change in situation has been driven by a new suitor. The Raiders would be his best option for game time, but he may have other ideas about his career. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

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