BY DAN

Welcome to the Mailbag, in which we’ve sourced the finest ideas and questions from the hive-mind of the Canberra Raiders community. This is a chance for your views, your questions, your musings on the subjects plaguing your mind. January provides some clear air for thought, and so here we are.

As promised, we’ve got plenty of suggestions for rule changes, starting with Kathy’s brilliant proposal that got this whole thing going.

Hey Dan

Let’s democratise the rule changes. We’re stakeholders after all! How about you start the process with a sort of mailbag with all Sportress writers and fans making bold suggestions for rule changes. Here’s mine:

Each team is allowed one tackle by a trainer to be used anytime during the game. If they make a second (and I’m willing to bet my house and all my grandchildren some will), the game is forfeit. The Storm of course get two and the Broncos six (and a free headbutt if wearing a Reece Walsh mask).

Kathy S

Blue shirts laying hits. You’ve got to love it. Not only is it the kind of headline-grabbing idea that Vlando could get on board with (at least until he gets his way and we implement MULTIBALL!) but it would also ensure a post-career career for players. Or perhaps a new version of two-way contracts for young players. There’s a bit of thinking that can go into this. And while it may not improve the actual game, isn’t a bit of mindless speculation and some controversy all what we actually want? Who likes rugby league anyway?

The additional tackles for the Storm makes perfect sense. Two sets of books, two tackles by the trainers. The Broncos getting six, and a free headbutt, is fair and just implementation of precedent. Bring back Alfie for the role. The Roosters will obviously be the best at using it, given they’ve had such experience in using their trainer at the highest level, in varied ways. Whoever the Titans put at the spot will be chaotic and a terrible defender. But it’s ok, because it’s the Gold Coast.

It would require a personnel change for the Milk. Currently Justin Giteau is the person most often in the blue shirt, and while I respect his coaching ability, I don’t know if he can go the full Sattler, so to speak. Kenny Nagas and Brett White have both done it in the past, which are better options, but probably imperfect. Presuming we go with a recently retired player, the options would appear to be:

• Jordan Rapana: absolutely could not be limited to one tackle a game, and would almost certainty jump in at first receiver if he saw an option on the blind.
• Elliott Whitehead: let your body and mind rest King. You’ve done enough for this club.
• Josh Hodgson: Everyone knows my feelings, but I presume you need knees for this job
• Jarrod Croker: ditto
• Nic Cotric: you could bring him home. You’d never have to worry about whether he’s fit enough, but I’m not sure he’d necessarily use the weapon strategically.

But my preferred option is Sia Soliola. Because he’s a hero. Because I love him. And because maybe he’d go full “Slater” on someone.

Now we’ve got that covered, on to the next suggestions.

G’day from Louisiana Dan.

I would like to express my support for the suggested rule change in here one trainer per game can be tackled by each team. It matters not whether it is their own trainer or the oppositions. I would also like to add a bonus rule where the ref can be tackled once per game for a wrong decision made by the bunker.

I really think it would sharpen up their game

Tom W

Louisiana! The Sportress is read far and wide! Let’s go Saints. Who dat!

True story, years ago I was as hungover as a human can be and I went and watched a documentary on Steve Gleeson, a Saints special teams player who’s live had been drastically altered by his diagnoses with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease. In a very vulnerable state I watched that harrowing documentary and left a broken human. Recommend the documentary. Also recommend being in a better position to hack it.

Now that I’ve told you everything I know about Louisiana (not actually true, I also have plenty of takes about the birth of jazz if you’re interested), let’s get on to your suggestion. Firstly, payback is hilarious. How good would it be to see a trainer lay a critical hit, only to get Tapine-on-Walsh a few minutes later by vengeful players. Or as we’re all yelling at a blue shirt to get off the field, a player makes them want to get off just because they get that look in their eyes.

The real question here is which side would be the first to lay a hit on their own trainer? “Oh I remember those burpees in December and I blame you.”

Ok obviously we’ve got a bit away from reality here, so bringing us back…

Hi Dan

One obvious rule change is rather than an arbitrary advantage rule, extend the advantage for the remainder of the tackle to promote extravagant attacking play.

It appears that everyone would be on board with this change, but I’d like to to argue the counterpoint to implementing it. Good luck!

Vanders

Vanders. First of all, sick name. I feel you’re a person who knows how to get things. Like if I was in prison, and I needed a tiny geological pick to dig my way out, you’d be who people tell me to go see.

Extending the advantage is something I noticed referees doing on their own volition more commonly in recent times, and I’ve never really minded it. The major issue of course is that it is entirely up to the interpretation of the individual referee. That means people would have to be cool with what many will consider broad inconsistency and variability of how different referees interpret that advantage in different situations. The other challenge I see is how this gels with the competitions bizarre desire to continually extend the ‘six-again’ rule.

In short, I’m pro this suggestion. At least, I’d prefer that ahead of more set restarts and the other ideas Vlando comes up with. It’s a small change, one that we’ve effectively been trailing in recent years anyway. Good stuff Vanders. And thanks in advance for the rock hammer.

Good concept, Dan (/Kathy)

This is not so much a rule change as a desired rule enforcement. 

At some stage of the past few seasons, coaches have evidently identified that referees will not penalise a lock (who is usually a hooker) breaking the scrum and picking up the ball. Fast forward to the 2025 season and you would be hard pressed to find any scrum in any game where the halfback picks up the ball. The advantage for the attacking team is obvious – for a couple of seconds they have an extra player in attack. Defending teams counter by deliberately infringing on any scrum play in their territory. 6-agains for all. 

Do you care for this? I do not. The 2026 evolution may well be that the attacking team, anticipating the infringement, drops the ball in the first tackle to force the ref’s hand into blowing a penalty instead of a 6-again. (Side note, one of the many reasons the 6-again rule is terrible is that teams who make an error are often better off because of it.)

PS I am not a big commenter (apparently this topic has fired me up) but wish to say I find your work cathartic and you may rest assured your more niche Simpsons references are seen. 

Party on, Andrew

Andrew

It is perfectly cromulent to get upset by this.

Let’s start with basic principles. Scrums are great for attacking football because they remove six defenders from the line for a short period of time. Teams are so good at exploiting the extra man as you identified, that the defenders tend to leave early in order to stop the inevitable try. That has also led to the comically under-penalised return of attacking scrum members holding on to defenders to stop them leaving the scrum early (or at all).

How do we fix this? Unwinding the problem, I’m not sure we can. My only suggestion is to make whoever smelt it dealt it fed the scrum has to pick it up at the base. Even then it would only take a week or so before wily coaches were working out how to get the lock to jump around the half to be first receiver and we’d be in the same position.

The Raiders get an extra $10 000 allowance on their salary cap every time some f’wit from Sydney media says well never make the eight. 

Willow

Willow. Another great name. We are blessed by great names in the Raiders community. Also, a great suggestion. The fat cats at NRL HQ wouldn’t go for it, but that’s only because the Milk would have more cash available than the Reserve Bank.

We could just take it all and spend it on hats, because I’m not sure it actually having spare cash would do much but allow us to pay the few that will come here even more.

Interested on your take of switching Strange to the right side. What impact will it have on the defence. Will Timoko still have trust issues. 

Cheers

Adam 

Ok first of all if you use Twitter you should go follow Adam there. One of the great members of that community, as well as the one found over at the Greenhouse forums.

I did touch on this the other day in my piece about the Raiders trying to solve their 2025 Achilles heel. Timoko spent so much time in two minds last season because he was never sure if Fogarty was actually going to be able to cover inside-out on movements heading towards them. He won’t have that worry with Strange.

That won’t necessarily remove all the trust issues. Strange is so furious in his intent that there will be times he’ll cover across so far that he might over commit. It may not alter how Timoko defends, but it could mean that whoever is defending at the four position (usually the right backrower, but sometimes a middle filling out) will need to be aware of the need for them to continue to cover out.

With the extended benches do you think it plays into the raiders hands the most with such a competitive 30 with the likes of being able to use Laurie and Black? And what impact could these extended benches have on cup teams and the quality of cup games?

Rory

Rory this is a great question. The first thing to remember is who fucking knows if this mooted extended bench actually comes to fruition. It’s now the second week of January and we’re not any wiser if the mid-pre-season drop of rule changes is actually going to happen, or which of them.

But assuming it does, then carrying players with utility value like Laurie (or Sasagi, Hosking, Finau or Noah Martin) will undoubtedly be of use. Laurie can cover all positions 1-6 in a passable way. You could have a Black deep on a bench in case a game situation (blow out loss or win) gave you a chance to get him some reps. It could be multifunctional if used right.

Morning Dan

How much of an impact do you think Englands moral thrashing of Australia in the ashes will have on team morale between our British and Aussie counterparts? And if you had to play Ben Duckett in the raiders squad where would you play him and why?

From a Sunbaked delusional Pom

Harry

Harry this is an important and valuable question.

This test series has been an examination of the superficiality of what Bazball has done. It originally was successful because it told an underperforming English team to not be scared. It is failing because it didn’t actually have anything after that. Baz’s pitch was don’t think, a cognitive short cut for test cricket, which at it’s most testing, is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical or skill-based one. To me it’s always seemed McCullum’s response to being part of Kiwi teams that were always good against anyone but Australia. World beaters collapsing into cowardice and over-emphasised ‘niceness’ to avoid showing that they actually cared about winning and losing.

It’s gelled nicely with Ben Stokes preferred position – be such an underdog that there are no longer expectations, then failure means nothing, but success means everything. It’s a toxic version of bravery; no matter how many times the commentators tell you. True bravery isn’t having nothing to lose and succeeding anyway. It’s knowing the risks, being terrified of the consequences, and still finding a way.

So moral victories aside, England have failed because they weren’t willing to play hard test cricket. Australia weren’t that much better – their batting in particular fell victim to this same scared hubris on many occasions. But between Trav, Carey and Mitch Starc they had enough to get by.

Will this create rifts? I don’t think so. I don’t think Matty Nice, or Morgan Smithies would see themselves in this England team. Being scared is not something that really comes to mind when I think about them. Would a scared man pop that ball to Kaeo Weekes at magic round? Would a scared man take on Hudson Young in an elevator fight? These are two people willing to work hard, to be afraid of failing, and find a way regardless. They’re practically Australian.

On Duckett, I’ll go you one step further. I’ll give you a position, and an archetype. I think he’s underrated as a Bazballer. He doesn’t look like he’d be a good opener – he’s more first-gen Justin Langer than post-01-India Matthew Hayden. But the freedom to play his shots allowed him to succeed between Ashes series (though, not really in them).

Physically he’s quite nuggety and short, and it’s hard not to think of him as a hooker. I know the temptation is there to compare him to Josh Hodgson. Also English, nuggety, successful. But Josh was a savant who saw and did beautiful things on the footy field. His pre-ankle injury 2016 semi performance against the Sharks was like watching Rivera paint his murals. Ben Duckett plays cricket more like Hodgson jumping through the door. It’s not graceful or glamorous, but it happened, and it was funny to watch.

So he’s no Hodgson, but he’s valuable. Thinking back on Canberra rakes that may not have been stars but have been critical to success I think of the bearded wonder, the upside-down-face King, Kurt Baptiste. Critical interventions running the ball at the back end of games, able to turn a game with an adventurous running and a quiet determination to play his role that would make Frodo smile.

Can we win without a spinner? How did I manage to forget my binoculars when I scored an unexpected last minute ticket to Day 2 sitting fairly high in the stands?

Kathy S

Well we did, twice, as silly as it sounds. As a struggling tweaker myself, I am sympathetic to the plight of my brethren. There’s not really a good reason to carry so many medium pacers. As Dizzy Gillespie has said many times this summer, if you can’t beat a team with four fast-medium bowlers, five or six isn’t going to help. Beau Webster was called on to do the job in Sydney when a test actually made it to day four and five and it started bending around corners.

This tendency to downplay the importance of spin worries me though. Australia has 20 something tests from August, and Nathan Lyon just had his second major soft-tissue injury. His importance to their last Ashes victories on the Baz-Balled powderpuffs of once great wickets in England is often under stated, and in 2023 they won with him, and couldn’t win without him. If they are going to win the Ashes, or in India in 2027, they need more of a plan than ‘hope the old guy still has it’, and they just wasted a rolled-gold opportunity to get some reps into Todd Murphy (or someone else).

Any music recommendations?

Herman B

Thanks Herman and I hope Ronny and Donny are going ok.

I’ve always got music takes. My favourite albums last year were the Racing Mount Pleasant and the Viagra Boys records. Because we always have to recommend an Australian artist, I would also recommend Once I Was Wild by the Smith Street Band, The Second High by Liz Stringer, Plasticine by Gordi, and Social Cohesion by Mudrat.

Hi Dan – firstly thanks again for your always interesting and insightful take on the Raiders – I love it!

A couple of questions I’d be keen for your take on:

1. Taps seems to go from regular-God-status to Zeus playing lock for the Kiwis – with a passing game we don’t get to see and even more offloads. What are your thoughts on Hors prop, Taps lock?

2. just like every other industry I suspect AI coaching tools are going start generating new insights for teams – and early adopters may get a competitive advantage. It doesn’t seem like Sticky territory, but interested in your thoughts.

Cheers

Nick

On the second question first, I actually have about three mailbag’s worth of views on this that I won’t get into here. To keep it short, I think most data providers for NRL teams (like Champion Data), and their in-house units, are already using AI products, so the first-mover advantages will be minimal. But broadly speaking there is utility in the products, and I would bet the Raiders’ established data analytics function would be using them to support their input and analysis. My understanding is that Sticky has always encouraged inputs into strategy from across the organisation. Whether they end up denting the sides of his strategy is another thing.

On the second question, I think you’re right that Joe Tapine’s passing is underrated. Over the years we’ve seen a few occasions where interplay between him and Josh Papalii has been advantageous. His offloading is a weapon that isn’t so much underused, but a focus for opposition defences. Can he do more of both? Certainly.

Does it necessitate a position switch? Horse and Taps effectively play the same position but different roles. Taps is hard carries, less defence, break the wall. Horse is second wave through the hole that Taps creates, connect the sides on shifts, and do as much of the tackling as possible (so Taps can keep ramming those batters). While I do want Taps passing more, particularly between forwards, I don’t necessarily wanting him to take Corey’s role.

First off, Dan, love your work. The Sportress is one of the few emails I always read top to bottom. Some years they are easier to read than others, 2025 comes to mind as one of the good ones.

Personally, I think we will be even better than last year. I think our attack was stifled by Jamal’s running game, or lack thereof. Having two young guns fighting and I think sharing the half-back spot will make us even better. Just like in ’87, we got to the GF earlier than expected, in ’25 we won the minor premiership earlier than expected – but the new dynasty is coming. Or it might already be here, minor premiers to future 3-peat champs, we just don’t know it yet.

Here’s my ask Dan anything question:  What do you think about the Chevy Stewart situation? I’m pretty sure you, like many others, predicted he would be training at Wollongong or Cronulla by now, after Weekes signed the big extension. But here he is, still bleeding green. As far as I know, there weren’t even any stories or rumours of him talking to other clubs; he stuck solid, despite getting permission to look around.

But my point is – he is still here, not agitating for a release (but doing extra sprint training over Xmas). I think (or more likely hope) that he and his family are on board with the program. Prepared to stick it out as part of the squad and wait/fight for his opportunity. Staying because the coaching is excellent, the club is a great place to be around, and the youth policy works not just because of a path to first grade, but because of all the other intangible quality-of-life stuff.

I like the kid. We had such a great run with injuries last year, we never know how much we might need him going forward. Maybe he’s just waiting to be a Bear?

Anyway, any Chevy update would be great.

Matt

Thanks, Matt, for your other kind words and for your injection of optimism.

You’re right, I did predict Chevy to be elsewhere by now. And yet here he is, putting in work, trying to get better, and doing it all in green. He hasn’t had an incident free off-season, but you’re right about the sprint training, the good attitude, and the willingness to bide his time.

I can’t say I have a good read on where this goes. I think he should be transitioning to first grade this season. I’m not sure how that happens in Canberra. I know people want to find ways to include all the talent in one team, but there’s only one ball, and with the current set up there doesn’t seem a good way to squeeze him into the 17.

Unless something goes wrong, (or stunningly right?) I would expect him to be on the outside looking in. But at some point he needs first grade experience. Most teams have established fullbacks which makes it hard to know where he can go that will be a guaranteed pathway to starting. Maybe that’s why he’s still here?

I’m glad for now that he’s staying. He’s obviously talented and is going to make some team very happy. Maybe it’s the Raiders. It’s something worth watching.

Bit of an odd question but since 2000, 4 Raiders teams have finished in the Top 4. I’ve lived and died by three of them but was too young to remember anything of the 2003 season except Bulgarelli dropping the ball in the Semi. Where does the 03 team rank in Raiders folklore?

J Doyle

Ah yes, Bulgarelli. If you’re anything like me you remember where you were when that ball hit the turf. For me it was a birthday party in Wagga, watching on a TV that absolutely should not have been on – I paid the karmic price. It was an unfitting end to a fun season. But that’s where the familiarities with 2025 end.

That ’03 team was a watershed. The first time the club had been really successful (in my mind at least) since the golden age. It had a distinct identity, not one based on excitement like the Stuart/Daley days, but rather one based on raw-dogging hard work. They basically turned quick play the balls into hard-one-out hit-ups. Anymore creativity than that had to come either Clinton Schifcofske, or to a lesser extent, Mark McLinden, doing mad shit, or bombing to Joel Monaghan. I mean, when you got a 30-year-old Jason Croker as a prominent member of your spine, you know it’s not necessarily going to be traditionally expansive attack.

It wasn’t slow, but it was conservative. It took advantage of a game that hadn’t quite worked out the wrestle required to slow down rucks. It was kind of a proto-Vlando ball team, in that the ball rarely got more than a pass wide of the ruck, and instead focused on offloads to create a broken defensive line. Consequently, it was a big ol’ pack. Ryan O’Hara would eventually play Origin, Luke Davico was a club stalwart. Ruben Wiki was still in the backrow, Jason Croker often at six. Troy Thompson, Alan Tongue, Ian Hindmarsh. Sean Rutgerson. Tyran Smith may have been the most athletic guy I was never sure was going to hold on to the ball.

It was a who’s who of guys, a bunch of big dudes who played honest footy. They hard-worked their way to a seven-game win streak to start the season, and basically rode that all the way home. It always felt limited, in a way that 2025 didn’t, but while it continued to result in wins, we rode the lightning.

Unquestionably my favourite game of that season was the 51-16 defeat of Manly at Brookvale. I was randomly in Sydney that weekend and found my way to the game. Simon Woolford got sent off early (the 8th minute with nothing on the scoreboard) for a high shot. I was infuriated and of the impartial and rational view that he got dudded (he also got three weeks and Luke Williamson left the field in a stretcher and a neckbrace). Mark McLinden left the field in the first half with a broken hand.

Somehow Brad Drew, Choc, and Jason Croker turned a player disadvantage into a fifty-burger with a disrespectful field goal. It would have been more, but Schifcofske missed his first three kicks at goal and the Raiders missed four conversions in total.

Full time came with Bulgarelli scoring a brilliant 80 try that started with a speculative Croker grubbber from his own 20 which Bulgarelli got on the toe and chased down before a beleaguered Manly defence could chase him down. It was raining, and I sat there embracing it like Andy Dufresne. I’ve never enjoyed the long-ass trip back from Brookie to regular Sydney more.

How come some people can’t stack a dishwasher?

Kathy S again

Kathy let me tell you something. I am the world’s greatest dishwasher stacker, using the space efficiently and using the space to make sure things are up the ‘right’ way to ensure cutlery is cleaned and pool of dirty water don’t collect. My dishwasher has a ‘top’ rack too which I’ve found allows me to fit the kid’s small plastic bowls upside down, opening up more spaces in the cup/mug areas.

Why do all my sports teams go to shit in December?
Australian cricket team is …. poor.
Packers shit the bed and then injured them selves.
Devils are having a moment (they let in 2 goals in the first 4 minutes today).
Mets decided to sell half the playing group.
And I STILL haven’t heard the Raiders say “toughest preseason ever”.

Tim D

Tim. It’s time to ask yourself a few questions. One. Have you upset Santa? Two, the Mets man. You can’t have the Mets and the Raiders. Trust me, as a lifelong Raiders and Knicks supporter, you’ve got to have some sunshine in your life.

On the pre-season thing, it’s been a fascinatingly quiet time so far (knocks on Matty Wood). Even the club’s socials have been more about selling corporate boxes than anything happening on the field. You’re right, no one has said anything about the hardness of it, other than one social post saying ‘no excuses’.

Maybe that’s the key thing for this side. It’s not actually about working harder than you did before. It’s about noting that last year’s success is now the benchmark, and they need to take that hard work and make more of it.

But that’s enough for now. Thanks to everyone for your questions. If you got this far, I owe you half an hour back at some point.

The Sportress is transitioning away from Facebook and Twitter for distribution so sign up to the email below before we disappear from your feed altogether. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.