BY DAN

In the early goings this year the Canberra Raiders will be without their nominal starting lock, Corey Horsburgh. This is obviously courtesy his kamikaze shoulder charge suspension at the back of last season. But that absence provides an opportunity for Coach Stuart to embrace the new era, should he have the courage. Hohepa Puru must play.

Puru did play, briefly, in replacement of Horsburgh in 2023. 38 minutes at lock in total in his debut against the Sharks. He started again in the semi final against the Knights, only to be concussed after three minutes. In his brief foray into first grade we only got a small glimpse what he can offer. He held the ball tight, took some hit-ups (and lumps), and worked his ass off in defence.

It was a mature response to his debut coming in a tumultuous time for the club. The team was playing like a record without a needle attached – no matter how much thrust and spin it put into its work nothing of work would come out. Everyone was trying a million things to fix it, and none of them were working. So instead of trying to be the saviour Puru just did his job, quietly, willing to sacrifice the best bits of his game for the betterment of the side.

But there’s more to his game. He’s a brilliantly agile footy player, and a creator through the middle third of the park. The Raiders have been searching for this for years, trying Elliott Whitehead as a ball-playing lock to start 2021, shifting Josh Hodgson to that position later that same year. They’ve asked their middles to pass more, and lent on the ability of Horsburgh in particularly to bring width to the attack, presumably to allow hookers to attack closer to the ruck while also ensuring the halves can get the ball with depth and space to operate.

Puru can not only offer the passing as good as any other forward the club has, but add to that the mind and creativity of a half, matching an ability to identify with a capability to deliver. It tends not to result in countable statistics (at least not those counted in NSW Cup), but many a try will start in his hands. You can see examples here (at 3:36 in that clip), here (at 0:11) and here (at 0:46). You can also see here (0:14), here (0:01) and here (0:35) a player with a keen ability to see an opportunity around the ruck and the speed and skill to make it worthwhile.(Apologies for not providing gifs – let’s call it technical limitations).

This becomes even more important for this Raiders side. The coaching staff’s frankly bizarre insistence on Danny Levi being the starting hooker robs the club of critical creativity around the ruck. If there’s no test or decisions required from for the A, B or C defenders, it makes the job of the edge defenders much easier. Overlaps are rarely born in the work of those catching the ball on the outside, but rather because a hooker, or first receiver, made someone hesitate, shift their body a little too much in adjustment, or make a decision that creates change elsewhere. Puru’s creative abilities can offset the bland-ruck-running of Levi (and Starling) until Woolford or Trevilyan are returned to their rightful place.

It would also add flexibility to the personnel used. He could be used to bolster Canberra’s middle rotation, bringing Horsburgh into starting prop, Papalii off the bench and presumably more competition for the remaining middle spots. Or he could come off the bench as the utility, able to cover minutes at 9 and lock, filling whatever is needed on the day. It’s a lot to ask of a player still finding their way in the NRL but it seems Puru knows his game and how he can contribute on any given day.

He’s may also be a good fit for this side in his leadership. It’s risky to expect so much of someone who’s played less minutes in first grade than I have spent thinking about Gary Belcher this week (41 minutes is pretty standard week-to-week). It’s also hard to assess things like leadership from 800 kilometres away. But from the moment that Puru has come to the club it’s seemed to me that he should be treated as a future leader. Some leaders are born, others are made. Hohepa seems both confident of his abilities and aware of their limitations (as evidenced by his willingness to subjugate his style to the team last season); he’s also a clear communicator. Combine that with a smart footy brain and you’re talking about a rare gift. In a club transitioning between generations, pulling together a spine so young they think a Walkman is a conjugated request, it’s priceless.

It’s a test for Coach Stuart because it’s entrusting a substantial role to fresh meat. In communications inside-out and analysis outside-in it’s been clear that the club is ready to move on from an era, both in style and substance. But it still takes the courage to make that leap. In the past it’s felt like Stuart has been dragged into change rather than led it. Perhaps that’s his style, perhaps that of the people around him. They’ve talked a big game so far but round one will be a chance to prove there’s a new groove in the neighbourhood (and it sounds so good).The argument against Puru is that he’s small, and while’s not finished developing physically, he’ll never be big. But that doesn’t make him a poor defender. It’s about accepting what makes him great is more impactful that his limitations.

Puru is therefore a necessity but also a litmus. There are obviously other options but they’re frankly all conservative choices. Playing a third prop, Whitehead, Hosking or even Morgan Smithies at lock would be safer and highlight a team not yet able to make that leap, and instead falling back into old habits as soon as there’s stress. Tighten up the middle defence, kick to the corner. Grind your way and hope the other team has an off day. It’s about as inspiring as a coffee from 7/11 (a dollar? But I wanted a peanut).

Puru represents a new era, a new style. He’s a better fit with the personnel they have, the way they should want to play, and would expand the options available to them on the field.

In short, Hohepa Puru must play.

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