BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders’ search for a backup half continues, hamstrung by a dwindling set of options. The longer it drags on, the more they’re being used and abused by agents desperate to drum up interest in their charges. Will Canberra escape with their roster, and their reputation, intact?

One of the great things about the Raiders’ retention and recruitment in recent years is the number of out-and-out wins. Zac Hosking, Simi Sasagi, Kaeo Weekes, Morgan Smithies, and Matt Nicholson have arrived and carved out roles. Combined with the success of 2025, one would’ve hoped that would have given the Milk some cachet in the market. Alas, in their pursuit of a backup halfback, that goodwill hasn’t translated.

At the risk of dragging salty nails over old wounds, the list they’ve missed out on, officially and unofficially, is plentiful. The Canberra Times covered it here, but it reads like a football version of Mambo No.5. No one’s been willing to take the leap with the Raiders. Toby Sexton, Dean Hawkins and Adam Cook, all of whom would have looked resplendent in a Canberra Raiders number 18 jersey, or running the show in number 7 at Raiders Belconnen, chose the delights of Super League over potential NRL time in lime green.

Things have gotten so dire for the Raiders they’re rummaging around in the $1 store (remember Clint’s Crazy Bargains? What a time to be alive). Jackson Hastings’ name popped up for about 45 minutes. Zero Tackle reported he was on Canberra’s radar mere moments before the Canberra Times said he wasn’t. You can pick whether you think it’s real. For some it will fit into the ‘play stupid games, win stupid prizes’ category. For others (including me) it screams the vulnerability that Canberra are in. Any and all marginal halfbacks will be linked to them, simply because they need someone. The Raider Raise has never been so liberally applied.

Hastings certainly fits that mould. He’s played his way out of favour at four NRL, and two Super League, clubs never having lasted more than a couple of seasons. There’s also been rumours about his ability to fit in – something impossible to verify from this standpoint but it’s not a vibe that generally gels with the Milk (rumours were that was why Hohepa Puru never flourished in Canberra). Hastings isn’t talented enough to be arrogant, and he no longer bears anything approaching the skill or athleticism to bridge the gap. His decision making is fine for a halfback, and he can lay on a try so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Milk got him cheap. But if the Times reporting is accurate, that’s not what is going on here.

The market may see Canberra as desperate, but there’s actually a positive side to all this. One of the reasons players desperate for a full time gig aren’t coming to the Milk may be because of their commitment to Ethan Sanders, at least in the long term. Even with the Pezet chase Canberra kept insisting that Sanders was their number one long-term project. Even during the Pezet chase, Canberra kept insisting Sanders was their number one project. They may (or may not) have questions about his short-term readiness, but they clearly have no such hesitation about his longer-term future.

It seems the other halfback options agree, looking for other ways to get enough film to be considered genuine NRL options down the track. Coming to Canberra means backing up the kid. Perhaps minutes on the ground, even in England (maybe especially in the out-of-sight, out-of-mind Super League), are better for your rep than NSW Cup. The Times noted the Raiders aren’t interested in “buying over” Sanders. Perhaps that message is being relayed in discussions – to the point that it’s undermining their ability to land a backup. Sometimes being straight-up hurts you short term, even if it’s good business long term.

There’s a general sense Canberra won’t be rushed, with reporting suggesting they’re happy to wait for salary-cap pressure to shake loose options once the new season begins next week. That seems prudent to me. Sandon Smith has, by proxy, forced Jackson Hastings out of Newcastle. When Sean O’Sullivan signs with the Bulldogs, it’ll likely force Drew Hutchison out (and you know Phil Gould’s trigger finger is twitching). When Lachlan Ilias signs with the Titans, it might push Tom Weaver out. Maybe one of Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin or Chanel Harris-Tavita becomes surplus to requirements after the Luke Metcalf extension. Stranger things have happened, and waiting five minutes to see if one of these options emerge doesn’t mean missing out on the absolute back-up plan in Hastings.

While the off-season hasn’t yet delivered the prize Canberra hoped for, there’s still plenty of silly season left between now and Christmas. The Raiders are being patient. Hopefully patient enough to make the right choice, not the rushed one.

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