The Canberra Raiders have taken another step toward clinching their first NRL minor premiership since 1990, but head coach Ricky Stuart remains cautious, warning his side is still far from the level required to compete deep into the 2025 NRL finals.
The Raiders’ only minor premiership during a golden era led by Mal Meninga, Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley, and Bradley Clyde, which saw the club claim back-to-back grand final victories.
The Raiders maintained their spot at the top of the NRL ladder with a convincing 40-16 win over the Parramatta Eels at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
The dry, fast conditions and a strong home crowd helped Canberra secure another vital two competition points.
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However, the scoreline didn’t reflect the full story, with the Raiders only pulling away in the final stages of the match.
"If you think we're at a certain level as a football team at the moment... we're not going to have success going into the back end of the season," Stuart said.
"I walk around there (change rooms) sometimes and I see four, five or six 22-year-olds, 23-year-olds, all gathering around talking about how they're going to get into the game and what they're going to do," he added.
While the headlines have largely focused on Lachlan Galvin’s move from the Tigers to the Bulldogs, it’s Canberra’s rising star Ethan Strange who has been capturing attention in recent weeks.
On the Raiders' Old Boys Day, Strange drew comparisons to club legend Laurie Daley with a standout performance that included eight tackle busts and a late try.
“He’ll probably play Origin one day and probably pretty soon,” said Michael Ennis on Fox League.
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Stuart was full of praise for Strange’s rapid development over the past year.
"We look at Ethan Strange at the moment. His communication and confidence has grown so much over 12 months, and I just keep thinking to myself, where are you going to be in another two years? I've got to keep coming back to thinking realistically that we're still developing these young blokes."
A favourable draw may help mask some of the Raiders’ current flaws between now and September, but upcoming clashes against the Dolphins, Panthers, and potentially Manly are looming as crucial tests.
These games will offer Ricky Stuart’s side much-needed matchups against top-tier opposition ahead of finals.
While Canberra is all but assured a spot in the finals in September, they’ll be determined not to rely on regular season success.