The Raiders scraped into the finals last season but have done little in the way of recruitment and lost four quality NRL players for 2023 – and that could come back to hurt them.
Xavier Savage’s broken jaw at the weekend also leaves the Raiders without an established fullback following Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s departure to the Warriors.
The Raiders have the talent to get to the finals – but there could be problems with their depth over a long season.
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2022 finishing position: 8th
Gains: Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield).
Losses: Josh Hodgson (Eels), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs).
Best 17
Xavier Savage
Nick Cotric
Matt Timoko
Seb Kris
Jordan Rapana
Jack Wighton
Jamal Fogarty
Josh Papalii
Zac Woolford
Joseph Tapine
Hudson Young
Elliott Whitehead
Corey Harawira-Naera
Bench: Tom Starling, Emre Guler, Pasami Saulo, Corey Horsburgh
Best buy
Danny Levi has returned from England to make a play for the hooking position and will battle it out with Tom Starling and Zac Woolford for the two spots in the top 17.
Raiders speedster scores length-of-the-field try
Biggest loss
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been great for the Raiders in recent seasons – and with Savage injured his departure will be felt even more.
Greatest strength
A fiery pack, with the likes of Josh Papalii, Joseph Tapine, Hudson Young, Elliott Whitehead, Corey Harawira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh capable of out-enthusing any rival forward outfit on their day.
Biggest question mark
The Raiders haven’t signed a player likely to make their top 17 – you should always sign two or three quality players coming into a new season to develop as a team. That lack of gains could come back to bite them.
Man under pressure
Jamal Fogarty looked good in his first season in Canberra last year but needs to continue to improve to lead the team around the park and take the pressure off halves partner Jack Wighton.
Predicted 2023 finishing position: 10th
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