BY VIV

Hello friends, I have once again been tasked with being the ray of sunshine as the NRLM season is put on life support so here it is, NRLW signings round up!

Plucked from the 2023 National Championships, the Raiders struck gold by signing Queensland Ruby Emma Barnes. I’ve been keen for this signing to be finalised as I think she was one of our most underrated players last year. Coming off the bench at hooker she was able to relieve Chante Temara without a drop in quality until she broke her jaw in round 3 last season. The side struggled while she was away with Chante having to play more minutes and a noticeable drop in quality. 

Since the NRLW season Emma has been playing the BMD Premiership for the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls where they’ve had mixed fortunes. Since re-signing with the Raiders, she hasn’t featured in any team lists for Wynnum-Manly, no I don’t know if that is because of injury or something else. For the seagull aficionados out there, the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls (represented by Barnes) will be playing the Tweed Seagulls (represented by Ash and Felice Quinlan) on Sunday afternoon to decide the best gull in the Raiders NRLW side. 

Cheyelle Robins-Reti signs for 2 years, temporarily preventing a raid from the NZ Warriors next year as they look to set up their side. Robins-Reti has spent the off-season back in NZ playing Super Rugby Aupiki on the wing busting through the defence and setting her teammates up for tries. Kerehitina Matua signs for another year, which leaves the door open for the Wahs but also, allows the club to see how much more development she has in her. She came off the bench for the Maõri All-Stars earlier this year but no other football in the offseason we can see.

Sophie Holyman has a contract until 2027, she injured her shoulder in BMD and played the NRLW with a labrum tear in her shoulder.  She reckons she is gonna be back bigger, better, and stronger this year which after last year is great for us.  She returned for Burleigh Bears in round 3 of the BMD Premiership and is likely to play origin again. Grace Kemp has also signed until 2027 at which point she will be 26 and at the peak of her powers and then agree to spend the rest of her career at the club, become an even bigger Canberra legend, and end up with a grandstand named after her.

Shakiah Tungai returns for another season in green after a solid first season on the wing and a bit of cover at fullback, she is joined by Tommaya Kelly-Sines also on a one-year deal. Both solid members of the squad and will lead by example on the field.

Based on the above, it looks like our plan for 2024 is to run it back, whether we learn our lessons from last season and go better than 2023 or produce more of the same is yet to be seen. It’s disappointing that we haven’t gone to market for new players this season as a lot of the established talent has been locked up. However, as today’s news that Caitlan Johnson has announced a move to the Sharks in 2025, despite the Knights not even in preseason for 2024, all might not be lost for the Raiders recruitment in 2025 and beyond when gaps are identified.

Also, development contract for Elise Simpson today please and thank you

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