BY DAN

On the back of the announcement that Chevy Stewart’s will be likely leaving the club, it seems nearly as inevitable that the Raiders will also lose Trey Mooney. Reporting from the Telegraph suggests that Mooney and Stewart have both been given permission to talk to other clubs with a view to a move before 2026.

We already knew that was coming for Stewart. With Mooney there’s been a vibe for a long time but with a less certain outcome. He’s been linked to a departure to Newcastle more often than I’ve managed to complete an article without a typo (it’s not a lot, but more than you’d think). Word had always come from upon high that Canberra wouldn’t let him leave. But something has changed.

As with Stewart being pushed out by the extension of Weekes, the investigation of keeping Josh Papalii in town is what is driving Mooney’s interest in leaving. The reporting suggests that Mooney has been angling for more first grade opportunities for some time. The rumours around this go back to before he signed an extension with the club in 2024. It’s been near four seasons he’s been ‘nearly’ an every week first grader. Papalii’s likely departure was meant to confirm that situation. Instead the rumours of Papa’s desire to stick around are enough to propel action. Evidently another year is too long to wait. Fair enough.

While in the past they have rejected such overtures the club seems open to Mooney testing the appetite for his services. According to the article:

It is understood the Raiders met with the agent of Mooney and Stewart on Monday where the pair were told they were free to leave the club at the end of the season.

Newcastle have been noted to be “watching”. The Dragons also appear interested in his services. Given the paucity of impact middles across the competition it wouldn’t surprise me if there were more suitors.

It’s easy to see why. For years Mooney has been on the fringe of bigger responsibilities for the Milk. He’s a barnstorming runner who’s got better-than-you-expect passing skills. He’s only played 24 first grade games since debuting in 2022, held back not by his ability with the ball but the need for defensive improvements. He’s found himself behind a host of middles, with new generation coming through NSW Cup right now to put pressure on his “next in line” status.

The reporting from the Tele suggests the Milk don’t want him to leave, or at least would prefer him to see out the deal. Opening him up to the market will have the opposite effect. Teams will promise Mooney time and opportunity. For a player that seems to believe he is ready – and is probably right – that’s all he’ll need. The Raiders also apparently reached out to the Dragons to arrange a “player swap” of Chevy and Trey for Tyrell Sloan. That would be a welcome outcome, but hopeful from my perspective. Sloan too wants game time. He’s spent too much time watching. Joining Canberra would be joining another queue.

Ultimately this appears a choice between a year of Papa or a future with Mooney in it. That’s good news in itself. If the Raiders are this willing to let Mooney go it means they think they can find a deal to keep Papalii. Right now he’s better than Mooney, and the Milk would be hopeful that another in their production line would be ready to take over when the club legend is actually ready to hang up the boots. Jake Clydsdale? Vena Patuki-Case? Myles or Jordan Martin? There’s plenty in waiting.

But in the meantime allowing Mooney to go to market may buy them time. While everyone seems to want a Papa deal to happen it may not get resolved that way. Allowing Mooney to seek out offers doesn’t mean the Raiders have to agree to him leaving. If a deal isn’t done for Papalii, then at the very least they can still find a way to keep Mooney. But that does appear to be the decision tree.

Payback for yesterday or a bet on tomorrow? It’s a tough decision that Canberra hadn’t banked on having to make. I don’t envy them.

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