After bowing out to the Knights in dramatic fashion in an epic golden point final the Raiders would have spent time in the off-season pondering what could have been.
The fact they were in the finals was an achievement in itself, having scored the fewest tries of any team in the competition, bar the 15th placed Bulldogs and wooden spooners Wests Tigers, with their 13 wins just enough to negate their -137 points differential.
This season, the Raiders have lost some of their most experienced names, with favourite son Jarrod Croker retiring and Jack Wighton heading to the Rabbitohs, taking with them more that 550 games of NRL experience. Both also played with the club for over a decade.
The club have signed yet another English forward with the promising Morgan Smithies lured from Super League powerhouses Wigan Warriors on a three-year deal, but for the most part, they will rely on their tried-and-true performers as they embark on their 11th season under Ricky Stuart.
With Corey Horsburgh (Round 3 return) and Sebastian Kris (Round 2 return) still out suspended, it gives an opportunity for some new faces to step up and make their mark early in the season, including Smithies who played a majority of his games with Wigan at lock.
The club have a number of options at fullback as well, with speedster Xavier Savage in line to make his NRL return and keen youngster Chevy Stewart pushing for a debut.
New signing Kaeo Weekes and the emerging Ethan Strange could also be thrown into the action early given their versatility in the backs, as might former Knight Simi Sasagi, who despite saying he wanted to cement a spot in the second row, has also been training in the halves.
NRL Fantasy club by club: Raiders
Predicted Round 1 team
- Chevy Stewart
- Jordan Rapana
- Ethan Strange
- Matt Timoko
- Nick Cotric
- Kaeo Weekes
- Jamal Fogarty
- Josh Papali'i
- Zac Woolford
- Joseph Tapine
- Hudson Young
- Elliott Whitehead
- Morgan Smithies
- Tom Starling
- Emre Guler
- Pasami Saulo
- Zac Hosking
Full Raiders squad and signings here.
Key Changes
- Ins: Simi Sasagi (Knights), Kaeo Weekes (Sea Eagles), Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors), Zac Hosking (Panthers).
- Outs: Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds Rhinos), Jarrod Croker (retired).
Health Watch
Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure / medical, indefinite).
Corey Horsburgh (suspended 4 games).
Seb Kris (suspended 5 games).
Positional battle to watch
Jamal Fogarty will begin his first season as a club’s dominant playmaker, with the halfback in need of a willing five-eighth to help support him in his role.
With the club lacking depth in the halves, it appears to be a three-way battle between newcomers Simi Sasagi and Kaeo Weekes and up-and-comer Ethan Strange.
While Sasagi is the most experienced, having featured in 16 NRL games for the Knights, he has stated he is keen to feature in the forwards despite training in the halves during pre-season.
Seen more as a fullback, Weekes is also capable of filling that supporting playmaking role and would have more chance of featuring in the NRL more regularly at six, given the club’s options at the back.
Strange, who made his debut NRL last season at centre and scored a hat-trick in NSW’s Under 19 State of Origin win in that position, played 11 games at five-eighth in the NSW Cup last season.
