BY DAN

In addition to the already known departure of Brad Morkos, the Raiders dropped the surprise announcement that Harley Smith-Shields would be leaving the club immediately. Tay Tay wishes she could drop an album so unforeseen.

If like us your mind immediately jumped to last year’s proposed swap for Ethan Sanders that was scuppered by Eels management, I regret to inform you that Harley is going to the Gold Coast. I don’t think that means that Sanders isn’t coming for what it’s worth (there’s an increasing consensus in the rugby league media that deal is definitely pretty much almost all-but-done). But it does mean that the avenue we’d seen most likely – a player swap – feels increasingly forlorn. Are the other options available? It’s hard to know from here.

Irrespective Smith-Shields’ departure further changes the structure of the Milk’s top 30. They’ve dropped two outside backs in a week, and where there are obvious “needs” in the spine and the backrow, there’s been no news on any potential additions. The Raiders will fill these positions. Does this change mean agreement has been made elsewhere? The waiting game is the worst.

It does mean we can add a new ‘need’ to the pile. The Raiders now need centre depth, depending on whether you think any of their bevy of young outside backs can take on the difficult position should Seb Kris or Matt Timoko suffer an injury. Simi Sasagi is cover, and James Schiller played games at centre in cup footy last year. The Milk will probably need more than that.

Concerning Harley it’s a little disappointing. Everyone had high hopes for him. A local hero and a prospect for the ages. Prior to his horror injury run he looked every bit capable of delivering on the promise identified. But in his opportunities in first grade since, he’s looked slower and less agile in attack than he was. In defence he’s looked less than decisive. While we’d normally point out centre is a really hard spot for young players to learn their trade, he’s looked particularly at sea. He had six try causes in six games last year, one of the worst ratios at the club (and that isn’t as bad as I thought it would be – the stats were actually kind).

If our contention that the signatures of Hohepa Puru and Ata Mariota were evidence that the club was moulding talent in to first graders, Harley’s experience is the opposite, a cruel reminder that even the best intentions don’t always deliver gold. Like Brad Schneider our concern is that the Raiders have let high upside talent go because they couldn’t turn it into production. It will hurt if either reach their potential somewhere else. Harley hasn’t shown it in first grade yet, but he’ll get ample opportunity with the Titans. It’s sad news for us but we can’t help but be happy Harley.

For the club we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. There’s a lot of flexibility right now in this Canberra roster both now (in terms of these spots) and into the future (in terms of the number of players off contract after 2024). If there’s plans afoot there’s plenty of room for ambition. Let’s hope they can do something with it.

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