BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders are about to make a smart decision to keep Jamal Fogarty for 2026 (as reported by Hoops, so grain of salt and all that). It is not without risks, and not without trade-offs, but it is the best pathway for the development of key players at the club.

This was likely the only way Canberra could keep Jamal. This option pays Fogarty his 2025 salary in 2026 (or something approximate). There was an option to seek to keep Fogarty at a lower level for 2026, but the veteran halfback would have attracted far too much interest on the open market for that to be a realistic approach.

It’s a good outcome because it would lock in a quality halfback who, when fit, is the perfect field general for this team. Canberra have thrived with his guidance around the field. His right boot is such a weapon it needs to be registered. He’s created more tries than any other player during his time at the club, and the Raiders have had their best moments in recent years when the offence, for lack of a better phrase, has run through his fingers. So it’s a perfect deal for now.

It’s also a good idea for the medium term. He’s also the perfect foil for this emerging spine. Young talent is just that, and requires guidance of old heads in order to find its potential. The examples where it goes wrong (like the Tigers putting too much young talent together in the Teddy/Moses/Brooks era) or right (like the late 80s Raiders transitioning from Henjak/O’Sullivan to Stuart/Daley) speak to the importance of having experienced players around to offset the worst parts of youth. The kids may have every idea in the world and may end up being more than Fogarty, but they still need a calming voice to help them navigate the challenge of professional sport.

This is obvious on the field for Ethan Strange, Kaeo Weekes and Owen Pattie. Fogarty does so much of the thinking (and kicking) for them, allowing them to play to their strengths without getting caught up in responsibility. Strange in particularly looks his best playing alongside Fogarty. Stylistically it’s a good match, but it’s also about having a more experienced hand doing all the boring work. Allowing Strange the time to learn about ball-play and creativity without having to also set everything up is the best way for him to develop.

It’s also better for Ethan Sanders, if he is patient. While he no doubt is champing at the bit to get into first grade, learning with Fogarty, continuing to develop in Cup, and not being asked to be an adult before his time, will only make him a better player in the future. There’s no doubt a risk he doesn’t see it this way. But there will be opportunities for him to play a role in first grade at some point, and making next season a transition rather than a cold handover makes plenty of sense. The only hope is that Stuart has been, and continues to be, clear with Sanders about his important role with the Milk for today and the future.

In addition to potential destabilisation of Sanders the only downside is the increased difficulty of keeping of Tom Starling. This decision puts the Raiders with a top 30 roster of 29 for 2026. Starlo is one of four or five current top 30 players who might be fighting for a contract (and playing time). He’ll also have external suitors. We’ll have more thoughts on that soon.

In terms of the veracity of the rumour, we’ll take the advice of Hooper with a degree of caution. He’s been wrong before. But this is such a low-stakes decision it seems unlikely that the outcome is going to change (bar another party coming in with a big dollar offer). Hooper is generally close to player agents, but this appears to be reporting the verdict of the Raiders – who are the sole arbiter of this decision right now. It gels with Don Furner’s recent public confidence about the outcome, and even Rick’s more combative comments.

So not just hopeful but almost kinda certain. The Raiders have had a bunch of wins in 2025, both on and off the field. If they make this it’ll be time to chalk another one up.

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 the story of truth, beauty, and a picture of you. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not