BY DAN

Like most teams Canberra are still working out what to do with the newly extended bench.

In the aftermath of victory over Melbourne’s second string team, most Raiders fans are pretty satisfied. But because of Peter V’Landys desire to treat the game like his personal fleshlight, Canberra aren’t just preparing for a season, they’re adapting to a rulebook that keeps mutating mid‑stride. How to effectively use a six-man bench is now one of the biggest puzzle on the table.

Last week the new NSW Cup Coach Chris Lewis noted the problem. He suggested most teams would want to keep a spare half on the bench, lest something befall their players at such a critical position. This he juxtaposed against the need to develop Canberra’s young halves.

That’s the issue you’ve got. You’ve got to have certain positions as bench cover, and then you want to have a genuine half sit on the bench, I don’t know how you develop that half if he is consistently on the bench. – Lewis

This is obviously an issue given Coby Black’s signature, and Coach Stuart’s update last week that he should be entering full-contact training in the near future (a week or so the coach said), and will be available for round one. Black is younger – even younger than presumptive starting halfback Ethan Sanders – and needs all the time he can to develop in Cup. But from a strict perspective he is arguably the ‘first drop’ half, and thus Lewis’s conundrum is revealed. Whoever out of Sanders and Black watches doesn’t get the game time they need to work on their games.

It surprised me when Lewis’ noted the issue. My assumption had been the additional space would be filled by utilities rather than specialists. A cohesive spine can only be built playing together consistently, and the benefits of having a singular voice directing traffic makes sense. Halves also don’t need a rest like middles – potentially subbing one off seems in inefficient use of your bench in a game that’s meant to be speeding up.

There was also now less risk of carrying Simi Sasagi and Zac Hosking on the bench when you can also carry Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies. Given the impact that concussion to outside backs can have on a side’s competitiveness, it only made sense to me that you want bodies that can cover for many problems as an addition to regular 17 deployed for things going right. Best of all things right?

In Lewis’s defence, this reflected a general consensus in the rugby league commentariat since the announcement of the extended bench. Most assumed this would mean the death of the utility, meaning that the additional bench space would be taken by specialists normally deemed surplus to bare necessity, if not requirements. The utility might hang on, but given you can choose from six different players, there was no longer a need to carry a swiss-army knife when you could go full Mick Dundee.

But Lewis’ problem seems at least resolved somewhat by Daine Laurie’s performance in the first trial of the season. He mostly played in the halves, took a good chunk of ball at first receiver, and generally looked calm and comfortable as a key organiser in that environment. It was against a NSW Cup quality side, so we should wait to see him do it in more heightened environments, but it was a good sign that he could be the coverage Canberra need in the halves, as well as positions he’s more traditionally known for.

Laurie is open to the idea, telling the media afterwards that he’d play wherever Stick needs him, and:

I didn’t really play halfback, I was a bit of a five-eighth, just getting into different positions and where I’m uncomfortable trying to be comfortable. I can play a number of positions so i’m just going to keep working hard. – Laurie

If Laurie can prove his value against harder competition, it could make that signing all the more important, a justification of an investment we initially were somewhat curious about. It would simultaneously empower Ethan Sanders to play without having to watch the bench every five minutes for Black’s shadow. It would ensure that whoever misses out is getting reps running a talented team in Cup, and make the best use of a relatively experienced player like Laurie.

It would also allow the Milk to potentially start Sasagi in the centres and still have utlity back coverage. This was something mooted as a possibility in the lead up to the season – though I wouldn’t recommend unless in circumstances of injury.

It’s a wonderful outcome for the Milk, should Laurie continue as he’s begun. Halfback had seemed like such a problem spot in the immediate aftermath of Jamal Fogarty’s departure. There was too much weight on Sanders, and zero options should he fail. Now they can let him grow, develop Black, and ensure they have the backup they need for a multitude of problems that can occur through an NRL game.

It’s not yet an unequivocal win for a roster build full of them in recent years. But it’s a good start, and a sign that front office hasn’t lost their nouse with the departure of Joel Carbone. In a rapidly evolving rugby league environment throwing up new challenges and problems, the Raiders may have again been able to find the right solution.

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