BY DAN

The mystery around Corey Harawira-Naera’s future has entered a new phase, with the Daily Telegraph and other outlets reporting that he is in talks with two Sydney club’s about potential contract offers. The Raiders, however, won’t be part of any return for him. This confirms what we’d all suspected – that Harawira-Naera’s time with the club was effectively done.

According to the reporting Harawira-Naera has been cleared by two cardiologists. We’d be cautious around this fact. The views of medical professionals are generally fairly nuanced, and it’s easy to interpret ‘red light/green light’ where doctor’s have given nothing but possibilities and risks. Reporting around this has been more certain than the medical situation before. Even taking this at face value, the idea that two doctor’s have cleared him to play does not mean the NRL has. I imagine that decision won’t be made until someone actually tries to register a contract.

Whoever wants to do that will have to take on a risk. That is why Canberra seemingly aren’t willing to be party to this. It’s one thing thing for a medical clearance, it’s another to be the first player on earth to play a contact sport like this with an implanted defibrillator inserted into his chest. With greenfields expeditions like this you can have guesses, but you can’t have any certainty. And when it comes to allowing a man to run out on the field who could suffer significant consequences, that appears to be a bridge too far for the Milk.

That means that this year will be the last he’ll be with the Raiders. Next year was the last of his existing contract, and from memory an option that would only be triggered if he played a certain number of games. That won’t happen, and so this season will be his last with Canberra.

As to whether it will mean Harawira-Naera is going to get on the field, there may be circumstances in which another team is willing to take that risk. Backrowers are at a premium right now. The Raiders somehow have five where most teams have one and a bit. Even with the health risk, even with the fact he hasn’t played since 2023, there’s every chance a team might look at Harawira-Naera and decide the upside is worth the downside.

From the quotes attributed to his manager other teams are interested, and there’s an offer for a trial-and-train deal on the table. I wouldn’t pretend to know if it’s a good idea, or safe, for Corey to be playing. From all reporting he seems intent, and from that perspective we can only wish him the best if he does land an opportunity. But if that happens, any idea of what success looks like for him takes on a multi-faceted tinge. Getting back on the field is a success. Remaining healthy is too.

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