Ricky Stuart has served a fascinating team list for the final Canberra Raiders game of the season, and in doing so will expose some young players to more minutes. This season is long dead, but at least there will be more data to take into 2027. It won’t fix everything for next year, but you gotta start somewhere.
The team list includes a surprise debut for Malachi Smith, a less-surprising debut for Coby Black, Vena Patuki-Case in the 17 and Tom Starling left out of it. It even has Noah Martin returning after more than a month off, and Simi Sasagi playing despite his shoulder currently being attached with bulldog clips and masking tape.
Black may or may not be the halfback of the future for the Milk, but he’s certainly proven that he’s good enough for a shot. This season in Cup Black has been the dominant half and game manager. He’s run the ball well, created well (17 try assists in NSW Cup) and kicked domineeringly. Defence remains a challenge, more physically than in attitude or in decision-making.
He’s shown consistently a willingness to run, and play within, the system. He rarely overplays his hand, and has been comfortable providing space for Ethan Alaia (his primary partner at five-eighth) and Shaun Packer (the most common hooker) to play their roles too. He’s formed an effective and complementary partnership with Alaia, who has almost as many try-assists as him (17 v 16). Fitting in with the other ball players in the spine should not be a major challenge.
Even if he’s healthy, I would not see this as a rejection of Ethan Sanders’ season. We noted earlier in the year that Stuart loves to give rookie players a rest at some point during their first year, and this is as good a point as any to do that for the Colonel.
While he’s had his growing pains, those have been heavily influenced by being a rookie half in a side with an inconsistent forward pack. Stuart himself has agreed with this. I would still expect him to be the starter for round one next year. But this at least lets the club build some tape, and gather intelligence, on what Black may have to offer, and how he may combine with Strange, Pattie and Weekes.
I’m also really glad to see Black given an opportunity with the rest of the first-choice spine in place. When the noise that Black would get a nod was revealed, it made me nervous that it might include moving Sanders to left side half and playing them together. This would have been awful for both players (and of course Ethan Strange), duplicating roles, and pushing Strange into unfamiliar and pointless work. This way Black has a clear imprimatur, and the best chance to succeed.
Malachi Smith is a fascinating addition. Smith has been a workhorse in Cup, mostly playing as a ball-playing lock, less often as a nine. He’s a solid package, and I’ve always enjoyed his work in NSW Cup, He gets through tackles, bulk runs and minutes. He’s defter at engaging the line and connecting through the middle than most realise, in a way the Raiders have never really had in first grade (outside of when Josh Hodgson played that role in 2021). Does he translate athletically to first grade? I guess we’ll see. I didn’t have him on my dance card for a debut this year, but I’m excited to see how he goes.
In the same way as I don’t see Sanders missing out as a rejection, Tom Starling’s ‘demotion’ to 18 on the list is not as dramatic as some may suggest. The club is clearly committed to him – they’ve reportedly begun negotiating with him for an extension this week. This may just be a recognition that Pattie needs minutes, and they want a look at Smith, and team balance requires Tom only be used if necessary.
I’m also happy to see Vena Patuki-Case included in the 17. With the injury to Lipoi Hopoi this week I’d love to know what the club’s plans are with Patuki-Case. He’s not contracted (at least as far as any public reporting has noted) but he could be a big part of Canberra’s future, particularly next year if they don’t fill out their middle depth more. It would be good to see him get more minutes, and better to see him go well against a strong Cowboys pack.
To a lesser extent Joe Roddy is similarly an important inclusion. He’s more known at this point but also likely to play a big role in the 2027 version of this side.
I’m also glad to see Noah Martin back. Many would have preferred him to sit this one to ensure his health. But every rep in first grade will be useful, particularly against a side like the Cows who ask some tough questions of edge defenders.
I remain perplexed at the persistence of Simi Sasagi. He needs surgery. Ultimately, it’s his choice to not get it, but seeing him struggle through for no obvious benefit (for him) is difficult to watch. I understand he can’t hurt his shoulder any more than it already is, but the pain must be excruciating. I note Mark Tuialii is on the extended bench. I wouldn’t hate if he got a run and Simi met with a surgeon.
It’s also confusing to see the Raiders not give a shot to any other young outside backs, or Seb Kris, and persist with Jed Stuart and Xavier Savage despite some rough form. Sione Finau and Sav Tamale both exist. I know there are reasons to not pick them, but I’m not sure either is learning much in Cup footy they’ve both dominated for years. Particularly Tamale, who needs to learn to catch bombs from first-grade halves. Most of the time in Cup they don’t even kick his way.
It’s been a frustrating season. Before today, this weekend’s game was almost meaningless. But now, with Black, Smith, Patuki-Case and even Noah Martin getting more minutes, it at least it will give them some insight into their future.
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