BY DAN

Recently we wrote about the challenge the Raiders will have in re-balancing their attack. The short version is this: when they have a more balanced attack, Jamal Fogarty touches the ball more. When that happens they win more, score more points and generally are less frustrating (I say less, because you know, you can take the Raiders out of frustration but you can’t take the frustration out of the Raiders).

But a key part of the assumption of getting Fog the ball more is his presence on the field. For the most part that’s a fair proposition. Apart from a lengthy stint on the sidelines after knee injury delayed his Canberra debut, he hasn’t been noted for succumbing to injury, either in his current stop or at the Titans. But like any player it’s no certain thing (*starts breathing into paper bag*) and he’s on the wrong side of 30 now (*dances in a salt shower like it’s a indie film and he’s having a life changing moment*). So sure, get Fog the ball more. Let him run the show. What happens if he’s not there?

The Raiders don’t currently have a backup halfback on the roster. There’s plenty of contenders for five-eighth. Kaeo Weekes, Ethan Strange, Simi Sasagi…even Seb Kris I guess. But for seven there isn’t really anyone. Troy Dargan was depth at the position until his tragic passing. Ethan Sanders was meant to come on 1 November until a Collective Bargaining rule change ruled that out. Now Canberra are entering the season with anyone else to support Jamal Fogarty at the position. It must make for lonely positional meetings, though as a Dad I bet he appreciates the alone time.

Given the nature of the options at six this is even more problematic. While at various stages of their career and potential at the position, all are run first options. And while we’ve seen running halves take more organisational responsibility – Laurie Daley and Terry Campese both started as running players, and ended with a far more ‘old head running the show vibe’ – that’s tended to be preceded by a few hundred games of NRL in between. Weekes and Strange have less combined NRL games than typos in this article (I mean, I presume. I can’t be bothered counting). If they get put into a position where they have to play side by side is Kaeo Weekes suddenly going to become a halfback? I hope we don’t find out.

On the rest of the roster there isn’t much help. Once upon a time Elliott Whitehead covered seven, which is part of what made him great but also seems a cruel request now. Tommy Starling or Hohepa Puru could do a job but with limitations. He can certainly pass well, and he’s played in the halves at a pinch in Cup, but I’ve never seen Puru kick. As for Tommy, he often plays first receiver as a loose forward but it’s been a while since the Raiders had a halfback that couldn’t pass to one side of his body (boy the Matt Orford era was something). Put Danny Levi in that same pile. Jordan Rapana would do anything for us but he probably shouldn’t do that. The idea of Xavier Savage at halfback might have Ricky Stuart looking like Peter Sterling.

Noting that the Raiders have both a spare top 30 spot and a spare spot on the supplemental list one would assume that it will be addressed through recruitment. The most obvious first matter will be whether they think they can a) sign Ethan Sanders and b) be able to secure a release for him to come early. Even if they do manage that, it can’t happen until after round six, meaning the Raiders would be taking a calculated gamble to get to that point. After that, well who says the Eels have to do Canberra a favour? Especially when that means the Eels halfback depth is playing not-a-halfback at that position (e.g. Dylan Brown or Daejarn Asi).

So it unlikely ‘Get Sanders’ is the entirety of Canberra’s plan for that position – that’s simply not a sustainable solution. They’ll need to find someone to carry the Sam Williams/Matt Frawley ‘break-in-case-of-emergency’ halfback role, probably sitting outside the top 30 (so they can keep that carrot for Ethan). Unfortunately Williams hasn’t played professional footy in two years, and Frawley is in England playing for Leeds. Personally I’m not busy and I’m a right-side player but Stick just doesn’t believe in me.

Joel Carbone is going to have to earn his money on this one. I’m not sure what else is available – it’s rare to find a halfback with NRL experience just hanging out hoping for a chance to fit into the supplemental list of a roster. If there is one they’re probably playing Q Cup (it’s like looking behind your fridge – there’s always a spare skill player going around unsigned and unloved in Q Cup) so there’s where you start looking. I’ve never seen Guy Hamilton play for the Burleigh Bears but he lead the Q Cup in try assists, line-break assists and kicking metres last season. Here’s him creating a try in the Q Cup grand final last season.

Just ignore the bit where the Bears are a Broncos feeder club. Ryley Jacks also has NRL experience and he’s plying his trade for the Brisbane Tigers. There are options that only Q Cup sickos like the maroonobserver.com know about. NSW Cup is harder because there’s more NRL teams, more feeder relationships and fewer ‘free agents’ to acquire. But they’re out there if you know your trade (for clarity I don’t).

The point is that the talent is out there if the Raiders are looking. They’ll need to find something soon because the current situation is untenable.

Shouts to both Blake from Raiders Review with Blake and the Pork, and reader Shaun C who said things that got me thinking a bit quicker than I was planning. Do me a favour and like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media and I’ll tell you that loneliness is my least favorite thing about life and that Anne Hathaway is a prodigious talent. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.