BY VIV

The Raiders have announced that they have signed Amelia Pasikala for two years and Sereana Naitokatoka on a one-year deal.

Amelia comes to the Raiders from the Roosters where she primarily came off the bench but started 3 games in the second row. She then went on to play for the Ferns in the Pacific Championship until she broke her ankle after receiving a nasty hip drop tackle. She’ll have the benefit of training with Ash Quinlan and Chey Robins-Reti in the Kiwi camp last year. The ankle should be ready to go for the season start and you can see the side using her off the bench to maintain intensity during games

Looking at who was left from the Raiders team last year without a contract in that position, it looks like she is going to replace either Tara Reinke, Ahlivia Ingram, or Elise Smith. Tara has been solid co-captaining the Western Clydesdales to a finals appearance in their first year in the competition. Ahlivia has graduated to the spine playing halfback for the Tuggeranong Bushrangers in the Katrina Fanning Shield. Elise Smith has been working for the Raiders running some clinics. Watch this space.

Sereana Naitokatoka is a Fijian international who played for Cronulla last season coming off the bench to fill in across hooker, five-eighth, and lock. Before this, she played for Parramatta in a similar role. In Harvey Norman Premiership she has played for Raiders feeder team Mounties (we love the length of the field try here) This is a clever signing to insure the side against potential injuries in the spine during the season. (Heaven forbid!)  It’s likely either Ella Ryan or Ua Ravu that make way for Naitokatoka.

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