Canberra Raiders: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

Troy Whittaker

Canberra Raiders: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing image

The Canberra Raiders enter 2019 a team under pressure after just two finals appearances in the past seven seasons.

Canberra underperformed last year to finish 10th, with embattled coach Ricky Stuart branding his team "soft" following one particularly meek defeat.

What makes the Raiders' recent mediocre output so vexing is the fact their talent is undeniable.

The Green Machine has the arsenal to compete with any team but habitually lets opportunities slip. Case in point: they lost eight matches by a converted try in 2018.

In fairness, injuries crippled Canberra at crucial stages during the season and they will again hamper their start to '19.

Respective shoulder complaints will likely see freakish try-scorer Jordan Rapana and young half Ata Hingano miss the opening quarter of the competition at least.

But it's not all bad news as some key personnel is back on deck.

Star centre, goal-kicker and co-captain Jarrod Croker returns from a dislocated knee, and athletic fullback Jack Wighton is available after completing a suspension for an off-field misdemeanour.

The great unknown next season is whether the previously lacklustre halves combination of Aidan Sezer and Sam Williams can stand up and take control of Canberra's attack.

Given the Raiders dropped their first four games last year, a solid start to 2019 is imperative. Otherwise, Stuart could quickly find himself on the coaching scrapheap.

#Ricky Stuart

CANBERRA RAIDERS PRE-SEASON NEWS

Canberra were among the first teams to begin pre-season training as they look to improve on the results of 2018.

However, their preparations for 2019 were thrown into disarray when Ata Hingano and Jordan Rapana sustained serious shoulder injuries in international fixtures.

The NRL afforded around $175,000 of salary cap relief to the Raiders to help them replace Rapana for the first half of 2019.

If a substitute is signed, Rapana cannot play until round 13 regardless of his fitness.

In other news, Jack Wighton was handed a two-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to assault.

But the NRL won't impose any further sanctions, leaving him free to play in round one following the 10-match ban he served in 2018.

The Raiders will employ co-captains in 2019 after announcing hooker Josh Hodgson will join Jarrod Croker in leading the club.

Former Warriors flyer Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined the Raiders in February. He is tipped to play fullback.

Former Sharks hooker and Michael Ennis has signed on as a coaching consultant with the Raiders this year.

It's an interesting move, given Ennis has been widely loathed in the ACT since the renowned pest mocked the Canberra fans' 'Viking Clap' in 2016 while celebrating the Sharks' tight semi-final triumph.

Jordan Rapana

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

Friday, 15 February – Raiders 22 def. Eels 20

Saturday, 23 February – Raiders 28 vs Bulldogs 22

CANBERRA RAIDERS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

Along with Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd, fan favourite Blake Austin is no longer a Raider after joining the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

He's currently the favourite for the Man of Steel award.

Canberra also confirmed the release of forward Liam Knight, who has joined South Sydney under new coach Wayne Bennett.

The club secured a handful of promising forwards to cover the sizeable departures of Paulo and Boyd.

Among the signings is 22-year-old ex-Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights prop JJ Collins (formerly Felise), who has shown potential in his 15 NRL games.

English bookend Ryan Sutton also joins the team from the Wigan Warriors, where he came off the bench in the side's recent grand final win. 

The biggest coup is that of strapping  England international back-rower John Bateman.

He will try his hand in the NRL after playing 152 Super League matches and 15 Tests.

Like Sutton, Bateman featured in Wigan's 2018 title triumph.

#John Bateman

The club has six train-and-trial players – Lachlan Cooper, Dan Keir, Matt Lyons, Makahesi Makatoa, Reuben Porter and Tony Satini.

Canberra have listed Andre Niko, Brendan O'Hagan and Kyle Paterson as development players for 2019.

Former New Zealand rugby sevens player Bailey Simonsson was awarded a full-time contract in February.

Development players are allowed to be selected in the NRL after June 30, with an exemption needed to feature in the top grade before then.  

 

 Player Date of Birth Height, weight Position NRL matches Rep honours
1Aidan Sezer24/6/1991180cm, 90kgHalfback/Five-eighth137Indigenous All Stars, City Origin, Turkey
2Bailey Simonsson18/2/1998188cm, 95kgFullback0Nil
3Brad Abbey30/12/1996183cm, 90kgFullback13Nil
4Corey Horsburgh3/1/1998188cm, 100kgProp/Lock0Nil
5Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad2/8/1995182cm, 86kgFullback/Wing7Cook Islands
6Dunamis Lui16/2/1990180cm, 106kgProp111Samoa
7Elliott Whitehead4/9/1989183cm, 102kgSecond-row74England
8Emre Guler19/1/1998191cm, 110kgProp3Nil
9Hudson Young11/6/1998Not listedSecond-row0Nil
10Jack Murchie26/6/1997193cm, 105kgSecond-row2Nil
11Jack Wighton4/2/1993188cm, 93kgFullback/Centre130Indigenous All Stars, NSW Country, PM's XIII
12Jarrod Croker (captain)11/9/1990185cm, 93kgCentre230NRL All Stars, World All Stars, Country Origin, PM's XIII
13JJ Collins15/2/1996184cm, 105kgProp15Nil
14John Bateman30/9/1993185cm, 98kgSecond-row/Lock0England
15Jordan Rapana15/8/1989188cm, 98kgWing97New Zealand, Cook Islands
16Joseph Leilua12/12/1991185cm, 104kgCentre192Samoa, City Origin
17Joseph Tapine4/5/1994188cm, 107kgSecond-row/Lock83New Zealand
18Josh Hodgson(captain)31/10/1989180cm, 97kgHooker84England, England Knights
19Josh Papalii13/5/1992183cm, 112kgSecond-row/Lock/Prop171Australia, Samoa, Queensland, PM's XIII
20Luke Bateman25/1/1995182cm, 100kgLock71Nil
21Ata Hingano11/3/1997183cm, 93kgFive-eighth/Halfback24Tonga
22Michael Oldfield24/11/1990186cm, 90kgWing39Nil
23Nick Cotric18/11/1998185cm, 98kWing/Fullback48Nil
24Royce Hunt13/8/1995192cm, 112kgProp1Nil
25Ryan Sutton2/8/1995189cm, 106kgProp0Nil
26Sam Williams18/3/1991179cm, 85kgHalfback84Country Origin
27Sebastian Kris19/4/1999182cm, 99kgCentre0Nil
28Iosia Soliola4/8/1986182cm, 107kgProp174New Zealand, Samoa
29Siliva Havili18/2/1993175cm, 99kgHooker48Tonga, New Zealand
30TBC

COACH: Ricky Stuart

Additions (players who weren't in 2018 top 30 squad): John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Ryan Sutton (Wigan Warriors), Sebastian Kris, Corey Horsburgh, Hudson Young, JJ Collins (Newcastle Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (New Zealand Warriors, Bailey Simonsson 

Losses: Shannon Boyd (Gold Coast Titans), Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels), Blake Austin (Warrington Wolves), Liam Knight (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Craig Garvey (unsigned), Makahesi Makatoa (unsigned), Mikaele Ravalawa (unsigned)

Re-signed: Luke Bateman (2019), Nick Cotric (2020), Siliva Havili (2020), Josh Hodgson (2022), Dunamis Lui (2021), Jack Murchie (2020), Michael Oldfield (2020), Josh Papalii (2022), Aidan Sezer (2020), Iosia Soliola (2020), Joseph Tapine (2023), Emre Guler (2021)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Brad Abbey, Luke Bateman, Ata Hingano, Corey Horsburgh, Royce Hunt, Sebastian Kris, Jordan Rapana, Sam Williams, Hudson Young

Development players: Brendan O'Hagan, Kyle Paterson, Andre Niko, Reuben Porter

#JOSH PAPALII

CANBERRA RAIDERS' BETTING ODDS

Priced at $21 (via TAB as of 20/2/19), the Raiders are 10th in the betting to win the 2019 premiership (via TAB as of 7/12/18). It would be Canberra's first title since 1994 when the great Mal Meninga led the team to victory in his farewell match. 

Josh Hodgson is the club's shortest price for the Dally M Medal at $26, followed by Jack Wighton ($51) and Joey Leilua and Aidan Sezer ($101).

The Raiders are paying $2.20 to make the top eight, $4.75 to secure a coveted top four finish and $13 to suffer the most losses.

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CANBERRA RAIDERS' 2019 DRAW

Games played on

Thursday: 1

Friday: 4

Saturday: 9

Sunday: 10


Teams they play twice

 Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels, Manly Sea Eagles, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers, Cronulla Sharks, New Zealand Warriors

 

Round Date Opponent Venue
1Sunday 17 March 6:10pmGold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium
2Friday 22 March 6:00pmMelbourne StormGIO Stadium
3Friday 29 March 6:00pmNewcastle KnightsGIO Stadium
4Saturday 6 April 5:30pmNorth Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium
5Sunday 14 April 6:10pmParramatta Eels GIO Stadium
6Sunday 21 April 4:05pmBrisbane Broncos GIO Stadium
7Sunday 28 April 2:00pmManly Sea EaglesLottoland
8Saturday 4 May 3:00pmPenrith PanthersMcDonalds Park
9Sunday 12 May 2:00pmSydney RoostersSuncorp Stadium
10Saturday 18 May 7:35pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsGIO Stadium
11Saturday 25 May 3:00pmNorth Queensland CowboysGIO Stadium
12Saturday 1 June 7:35pmCanterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium
13Friday 7 June 7:55pmWests TigersBankwest Stadium
14Thursday 13 June 7:50pmCronulla SharksGIO Stadium
15Saturday 29 June 7:35pmParramatta EelsTIO Stadium
16BYE
17Sunday 14 July 6:10pmSt George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium
18Saturday 20 July 5:30pmWests TigersGIO Stadium
19Sunday 28 July 4:05pmPenrith PanthersPanthers Stadium
20Friday 2 August 6:00pmNew Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium
21Sunday 11 August 2:00pmSydney RoostersGIO Stadium
22Saturday 17 August 5:30pmMelbourne StormAAMI Park
23Sunday 25 August 4:05pmManly Sea EaglesGIO Stadium
24Sunday 1 September 2:00pmCronulla SharksShark Park
25Saturday 7 September 3:00pmNew Zealand WarriorsGIO Stadium



It's a big year for...

Jack Wighton.

Blessed with ample amounts of speed, skill and agility, Wighton is at a crossroads in his career heading into 2019.

The fullback missed the back-end of last season after being stood down on assault charges and needs to re-establish himself in the NRL.

Only a few years ago Wighton was on the verge of playing State of Origin for NSW. He's currently in danger of losing the Canberra No.1 jumper, as young gun Nick Cotric looms large.

With plenty of football in front of him, the 25-year-old has the chance to use his recent suspension as the turning point to fulfil his untapped potential.
 
Wighton's road to redemption starts in 2019.

#jack wighton

MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of 16 February, the Raiders had 12,752 members for 2019.

Canberra finished with 20,055 members last season.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.

Canberra Raiders fans

Troy Whittaker