BY DAN

For a team working its way into the finals, there’s been a surprising amount of discussion and rumour about the Raiders’ roster for next season. The search for a halfback, among other things, has led to some weird and wonderful places.

Coach Stuart said on the weekend they’ve got 90 percent locked in for the coming years. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of change still underway. Canberra have a host of players on the way out. Jamal Fogarty and Pasami Saulo have confirmed deals (and releases) that mean they’ll be elsewhere next year. Josh Papalii is sticking around, and while the prospect of another year of him is exciting, there’s also reason to keep an ‘eyes-up’ view of what it means: Trey Mooney is gone in all but name. Similarly, Chevy Stewart is almost certain to depart after Kaeo Weekes’ extension, with the Dragons the most likely landing spot. Like Mooney, he’s simply too talented to spend another couple of years waiting in NSW Cup.

Albert Hopoate is also heading back to Sydney next season, with Sione Finau the like-for-like but higher-upside switch. Jordan Martin and Danny Levi are other members of this year’s top 30 who won’t return. Corey Harawira-Naera had an option for 2026 based on games played and… well, yeah.

True to their word Canberra have a host of young players moving into the top 30 next year. Jake Clydsdale, Michael Asomua, Manaia Waitere, and Joe Roddy are all additions to the top 30 in most reporting. That still leaves a few roster spots to fill. My count is 28, but I’ve spent the past few days with my four-year-old explaining the basics of arithmetic to me, so take that with a grain of salt.

Canberra have been on the search for a halfback to backup Ethan Sanders all season. First it was Jake Clifford, who is staying in Townsville. Then it was Lachlan Ilias and/or Sandon Smith. The Raiders have reportedly pulled out of both, saying they’re happy with the existing roster (though one can’t help but wonder if the Smith decision was more about not wanting to get caught up in whatever is brewing around Brandon Smith).

To me that suggests three things. First, they’re excited about Ethan Sanders. Second, they’re comfortable with Ethan Strange, Owen Pattie and Kaeo Weekes taking on bigger attacking roles next year. Third, they believe Adam Cook is progressing enough to be their only other halves option.

A persistent rumour links the Raiders to Lewis Dodd. He’s been on the market all year, and while his salary is astronomical (reports as high as $800k a season), the expectation is that Souths would cover the vast majority of it. It was their fuck up to sign someone that, judging off the way Bennett has treated him, presumably ran over Wayne’s dog. They probably should have checked in beforehand. Still, greatest coach ever hey, what a way with players.

I *think* this rumour is a poor man’s Raider Raise. The Titans are the other team rumoured to be interested, and this seems more like people trying to show NRL teams are still interested. Bennett’s efforts to salt the earth have been so persistent and comprehensive that it would surprise me if any team was interested. But given Stick is not Wayne’s biggest fan, maybe he’d see it as a giant fuck you win to turn the player deemed incapable into capable.

If the Raiders were going to go down this route, it would be exclusively as a backup. They’d need to make sure they’re not paying a lot for that. Their public statements about being happy with what they have internally may be about ensuring that any deal with Dodd is to their advantage.

Or it may simply be the truth. Cook is a good backup. The club has pipeline depth at the secondary half role — Jalen Asafamaga and Ethan Alaia both project as potential options. Sanders may already be ready. But with one or two roster spots still to fill, adding another backup half would be good business, so long as no one expects them to be front of the line.

At this time of year the Raiders have bigger fish to fry, and there’s an advantage to not doing anything right now. Other options may become available over time, and while the team is doing its work on-field, the off-field organisation will be on the tools too.

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