BY DAN

Ethan Sanders’ future as the Raiders’ preferred halfback now looks all but assured, with reports suggesting Canberra are effectively out of the race for Jonah Pezet.

The reporting is pretty clear. Pezet will decide in the next week between three clubs: Parramatta, the Cowboys, and the Storm. Canberra aren’t considered, unless you consider the sliver of light in the form of a suggestion he may sign a one-year deal just to go back to the Storm for 2027. That sounds bleak. There is also a chance that his manager Braith Anasta has gone to the media to try and get the Raiders back into the fight, but that feels hopeful, and ignores that even if the Milk get back in, they’re still doing so against clubs ahead of them in the queue.

In effect Canberra’s chase of Pezet has become a spring fling with the idea of someone else, a moment of fantasy destined to go nowhere. This was the hottest half on the market, and the Raiders started out suggesting him as a backup, throughout publicly spoke of lack of cap space and roster flexibility. Compared to the cap space and opportunity at other clubs even the club seemed to think it was a long shot. Turns out they were right.

It brings Canberra back to where they were on day one of the off-season: hoping that Ethan Sanders is ready, searching for a low-cost, high-floor insurance. As we’ve noted ad nauseam, those options are not plentiful, and most have been snapped up well before today. It may be Sanders, Cook, and maybe even Daine Laurie, providing the optionality to cover the Raiders’ needs in 2026.

My main interest is that this dalliance hasn’t impacted Sanders’ confidence. We’ve noted this risk before, and saw the recent comments of Ethan Strange in that light. Sanders has always struck me as a fairly self-assured fellow, something highlighted by Jamal Fogarty last pre-season. Canberra have handed him the keys while still worrying about his driving. It’s Mum grabbing the Jesus handle all over again. Here’s hoping he’s more resilient than I was.

Regardless I’m glad this will be sorted soon. The quicker this is done – one way or the other – the smaller the impact. Had it dragged into November (the start of pre-season), the disruption risk for Sanders and the club would’ve been much greater. Now he can head into pre-season knowing next year is his time.

That’s no guarantee that he’ll be a success. One of the reasons they’ve turned so many young talents into full time starters is that they’ve not pushed them before they’re ready, and had clear roles and supports for them when they were. Sanders won’t have that luxury. He’ll need to hit the ground running so to speak, in one of the most high profile jobs on the field. Giving him clarity and time will help.

More broadly, it’s a reminder that even with their success, Canberra still struggle to compete for marquee signings. That’s nothing to worry about — they’ve built what they have without doing it, but it’s a useful nudge for new recruitment boss Chris Hutchison to widen his radar. Things haven’t changed. They just need to keep finding value where others aren’t looking.

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