BY DAN

The tiniest rain cloud emerged on an otherwise shiny day when it was revealed that Hohepa Puru’s new deal with the Raiders wasn’t the two year extension we were hoping, but instead a one year deal with an option for 2025.

Signing Puru is a no brainer from our perspective, as we outlined here. The Raiders got him because he wanted to prove himself outside of the Big Merino-sized shadow of Isaah Yeo. They play similarly, and given Yeo plays 80 minutes a game as one of the best locks in the competition, and is only 29, it stood to reason that Puru would have to go elsewhere. He backed that Canberra would provide that opportunity, and he turned a trial-and-train deal into dominating NSW Cup and eventually a first grade debut.

That trajectory makes us believe that the length, and option of this deal isn’t something the Raiders wanted. A player with talent this obvious, in a role they desperately need, coming into his own on the field, is prime for a long deal. Someone who’s come from western Sydney, with ties to that region, are even more important to lock-down lest they get dancing feet.

So it seems such a deal was probably at the impetus of Puru’s management. It reflects his tendency to back himself. He’ll play more top line footy in 2024, and if the option is in his favour, he’ll be able to go back to the market and get more money, or more certainty, wherever he desires.

It doesn’t mean he’s on a short-plank to leaving. Puru spoke glowingly of the people at the club and his reasons for being in Canberra.

Making my debut this season was an awesome experience and I want to do my best to play more NRL games for the Raiders….Guys like Corey, Papa and Taps are all good mentors. They’re great on and off the field, they teach you what it takes to play that long and show you the route. It’s no fluke, they live and breathe good habits. If I can follow what they do both on and off the paddock, I’m in good stead to play at a high level.

Raiders announcement

He’ll get as good opportunity to fit into the system as he would elsewhere. Canberra have been desperate for his distributional skills through the middle third, his leadership, and the agility and flexibility he can bring to a forward pack. In short if he wants to feel needed, the Raiders are the place (although this kinda sounds like Homer’s pitch to Marge that he can offer what no one else can: complete and total dependency).

But it means Canberra best come correct before 1 November 2024 when he’ll potentially enter the market again, both in money and opportunity. If Puru turns the clear talent he has into on-field performance they won’t be the only team interested, and he has a twin brother in the Sharks system. From an outside view they are clearly close. It’s not hard to see them wanting to play together.

We’ll wait to see if reporting unveils where that option lies (lord maybe it’s mutual, which at least provides some protection for the Milk). But 2024 will be a watching brief for Puru, adding him to small pile of players potentially coming off contract next season (Woolford, Cotric, Puru and possible retirees Rapa and Smell). The hard work of getting him to come and stay has been done. Let’s hope the Raiders can make the next deal a lengthier one.

Shouts to Mike from the Green Machine Podcast for bringing this to our attention. Do us a solid and like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media so I can keep a watching brief on everyone involved in rugby league like the creep I am. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (thesportress at gmail dot com) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.