BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders have announced that Matt Timoko has extended his contract until the end of 2026.

In a sense this is only middling news. Timoko’s current deal expires at the end of 2025 so it’s only technically one extra year. There is an option to extend two further seasons on top of that (to end 2028) but it’s not clear if they triggered year-on-year, by the club, the player or by mutual decision.

I think presence of the options is less about Timoko wanting flexibility to leave (or the club wanting the ability to let him go) but more about a recognition that circumstances change. This is the third extension that Timoko has signed in the last four seasons, so it’s clear the tenor of his tenure has changed over time. If I’m guessing this deal is driving by the Milk having a bit of extra cash in 2024 and wanting to front-load some deals. This may mean the option years are a bit lower than will be realistic, and that can be revisited in 2026.

Regardless it’s a no brainer of a deal. I don’t have to tell you how good Timoko is. He’s only 24 and already a critical part of the Raiders. A bruising and brilliant runner, he is one of the few (but increasing!) number of Canberra players who can turn nothing into something (as evidenced by his always excellent RMOE numbers).

He’s a budding star and while it may not necessarily be recognised in the media, his abilities and performance have been recognised with international caps and performances at that level that hint at even more potential than previously thought. His only weakness (defence) continues to improve on a week-to-week basis. In short, like my man GURU said, all around the city and from coast to coast, he’s slicker than most.

He’s doing it all on the field and even taking a bigger role off the field. He was a leader in junior footy, and it’s not a stretch to see him taking a bigger role as the Tapine generation moves on. Previously Hudson Young has been identified, but Timoko is another option. And it’s something he wants to get involved in, as he mentioned in the Raiders’ announcement:

There’s a lot of emerging talent and I really believe that this club can do a lot of special things over the next couple of years, so I’m happy to be on board, be along with the journey and help some of the younger guys coming through too…It’s awesome to be part of the journey and to help guide those boys as well.”

Timoko here

For the club it means they have a bunch of key talent locked in over the medium to long term (particularly if the rumoured extension to Ethan Strange is confirmed). Timoko, Tapine, Young, Stewart, Mariota, Asomua, Smithies, Fogarty, and Corey Horsburgh are all contracted to the club through 2026. It’s a well-mixed core and a solid start to putting together the premiership puzzle.

Unquestionably this is good, if unsurprising news. Canberra is better for having Matt Timoko at the club. And this just means that will be the case for a little bit longer.

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