BY DAN

In the Canberra Raiders season-ending demi-semi final loss to the Newcastle Knights Elliott Whitehead was quietly brilliant. He tackled everything that moved, covering inside and out, making 40 something tackles with only one miss. He was a key part of a right side attack that for the second year in a row was more functional and cohesive that it’s more noted left side brethren. It was a throwback performance to a time when Whitehead wasn’t just captain and elder statesmen but rather a unique and critical part of the side.

That time is ending, as flagged by Coach Stuart recently. It should actually have been ended already. Each of the last two off-seasons we’ve essentially written an article wondering what the post-Smell plans were. Whitehead can still produce these performances when needed. He also did it in round one of the finals in Melbourne last season. It’s no coincidence that when Whitehead can reach into the depths of time and turn black the clock that Canberra’s performance rapidly improves. But these moments are coming fewer and farther between, and it’s no longer an every week thing. It’s probably increasingly unlikely to be even an every minute (of a game) thing. His clock is ticking, his body is ageing. Father time waits for no man.

Alright settle down.

Whitehead is 34, playing one of the most physically demanding positions in professional sport for a team that requires players at that position do more than just their job. He was never blessed with otherwordly athleticism, just an unending motor and ‘good enough’ attributes that meant no athletic weaknesses. Big enough to handle the big guys, agile enough to handle people moving at pace, hardly a line runner but good enough to poke through and skilled enough to pop passes, or if asked, run entire offences (such as when he played halfback in 2021, or five-eighth in 2016). But that lack of defining trait means he’s just hanging on. Each week is a battle to be big enough to take down players like David Fifita, or quick enough to cover the various twenty-year old fullbacks using their pace in space and asking him to cut them down.

Canberra need another option, and not just for next season. They need one now to spell him in games, between games, or maybe altogether. It’s been complicated by the absence of Corey Harawira-Naera, who probably would have taken Whitehead’s position more permanently if he could offer half the defensive effort and expertise the Englishman does. But there’s no guarantee that changes, and that’s even more complicated now that the Kiwi has been battling health issues after his horrible scare earlier this year. Simi Sasagi has been flagged as another option. He was signed as depth and flexibility. He’s a bet on the club’s ability to create Pieta given the right Carrara crag. Clay Webb is another internal option for a bigger role. But he was repeatedly overlooked this season in favour of out-of-position and surprisingly ‘good in a pinch’ Corey Horsburgh. So yeah…

The open market is there but it’s been there for a while, most famously in the ongoing ‘will they/won’t they/no they really won’t’ with David Fifita. Before that it was Eli Katoa and Teig Wilton (or at least eye-lids were batted in those general directions). Then it moved to Keaon Kolomatangi being offered the Fifita package (no not like that you sicko), another option that made us feel warm in the heart but foolish in the head. Word is he’s staying put. To paraphrase Billy Shakes, though love makes young men thrall and old men dote, her anthem still concludes in woe. Or, in the modern parlance, tell em they’re dreaming. Looking for options to provide depth at that edge should still be a priority and while it won’t work out kudos for Canberra for swimming in the deep end. At the very least the Bunnies are paying him a few more dollars over this cycle because of it.

The Raiders will need to find other options lest they be left relying on Whitehead again this season. It becomes a game of watching the 1 November deadline and finding players that might be looking outwards at that point. The Cowboys unearthed yet another backrower this season in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, chucking him into the mix of a side with a seemingly unending list of backrowers (and taking away the club ‘Rookie of the Year’ award. Add him to the pile with Jeremiah Nanai, Helium Luki, Luciano Leilua and Jake Gosiewski and hopefully the Raiders are currently watching to see who is likely to shake out when decisions have to be made about future opportunities. All save Finefeuiaki are on deals through 2025, which means the Raiders can’t approach them officially, just monitor the noise. Right now any of those would be a win for the club.

That’s just one (potentially) fruitful source. Is Shawn Blore is available from the Tigers if Isiah Papali’i and John Bateman stick around (Bateman coming ‘home’ would be too funny and chaotic to make any sense)? The Raiders may have lost that battle before it begun, again to a Storm operation that already beat them for Eli Katoa. The Roosters potentially have a couple of players surplus to needs (depending on whether you think Sitili Toupounua will stay on the edge or be moved to the middle, or what the deal with Angus Crichton is). Josh Curran was just told by the Warriors he’s no longer wanted. The point is there is options if you’re willing to wait and see (and hope a little bit). It becomes a matter of picking your battles and getting timing right.

This is complicated by the fact they may not have much space left in their top 30. These things tend to be fluid, but by our count there’s currently 27 positions full for next season. Another will hopefully go to Hohepa Puru (and if it doesn’t we march!). Ethan Sanders probably needs a spare spot and then well, you better get your pick up right the first time. Do you jump *anyone* becomes available, or are you holding out hope you can snare a big fish?

It’s a game that requires more information than those of us watching from the outside can play. Agents, players and other assorted hangers-on will be dropping hints left and right but almost none (or maybe some?) will get filtered through the media. You just have to hope the club knows what they’re doing and is ready to pounce on the right person and the right time, like they have attempted to do with Weekes.

The period between the grand final and 1 November will be one to watch. If Canberra is a going to get a first choice backrower it’s going to be done (or at least ‘agreed’ without formal signature) in that period. The second phase will be the roster shake-outs that come with formal signatures happening at 1 November. If Canberra don’t have something before Christmas you can put your cue down for the summer, this is the team they’re rolling with next year.

And then, yet again, Elliott Whitehead is going to have do it one more time.

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