BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders are reportedly interested in picking up Sione Finau, the currently injured St George Dragons winger.

This seems clearly a depth-and-need acquisition. Canberra have a need to find some depth for their back five, which feels perilously thin at the moment. From the sounds of their noises around Josh Papalii, they need low-cost options to fill out their roster. This is a good way to meet that need.

Finau has a good pair of heels on him, and is willing in yardage. In the few games he’s played for the Dragons this year that I’ve seen (he’s only played five in total) I’ve more than once thought ‘gee good run, who made that’ and discovered it was Finau. He’s quick. He’s a unit. What more do you want from a winger?

At just 23 it’d be another upside bet to match the host the Milk have made recently. Given their track record and given it’s a depth pick, it’s reasonable to be fairly comfortable with it. That’s even with him out for the year with a serious injury (shoulder). It’s a low-risk, low-investment pick up. Here we are with the Raiders making sense. What a world. Well done HQ.

The major question though is the impact on the Raiders’ previously stated intent of keeping Albert Hopoate. Depending on how they go with a halfback chase and the Papalii dialogue, it’s hard to see they have many top 30 positions left. Would they be able to get Finau on the promise and a dream of a supplemental? Seems unlikely but given he’s off contract and injured it might provide incentive. Or perhaps Bert, in a similarly precarious personal position would also be willing to take the supplemental just to stay on the roster.

One might ask similar questions about Jed Stuart and Michael Asomua. Stuart isn’t on a top 30 deal next year, but Asomua appears to be (as much as we can tell with these things). Just where he fits in the club’s plans is yet to be seen. Acquiring Finau might have him so far down the chart that a top 30 deal is no longer fit for purpose. Whether a deal for Finau materially impacts either player remains to be seen.

It seems a good prospect that the Raiders will succeed here. As mentioned above, Finau’s contract status and injury situation means he’s certainly in need of a home, and he’ll likely be keen to find somewhere with a relatively short path to first grade. The Raiders don’t have established players seeking a way into the top line in the outside backs. There’s opportunity in these waters. The Raiders have also proven themselves capable of getting the best out of players as demonstrated by *points at nearly entire roster*. Finau’s toured HQ, which is generally the second best sign after Stick saying he’s looking to do a deal. This seems a good chance of occurring.

If Canberra do pull off the acquisitions of Finau it’s good business. A young winger with a lot of upside on a team friendly deal? That’s how good sides operate in free agency. It’s pleasing to see.

Sign up to the mailing list below and I’ll keep striding, one pained step at a time. Orlike the page on Facebook, follow me on BlueSky, or share this on social media. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.