The Raiders were one of the strongest finishing teams last year thanks to the scintillating form of star prop Joe Tapine and the return of halfback Jamal Fogarty.
Tapine has made a pact this year with several teammates, including fellow front-rower Josh Papali’i, to stay off the drink as he believes sobriety was behind his breakout 2022 season.
The Kiwi international has no intention of resting on his laurels, determined to take his consistency to “another level” and end Canberra’s 29-year title drought.
“I was talking to my wife and said I don’t want 2022 to be that one year where everyone said he played great then the next year he fell off the cliff,” Tapine told foxsports.com.au.
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“I want to do all I can to play at that same level and higher. That comes back to my training and mentality going into games as a leader, so just getting better in every facet of the game.
“The premiership is a huge goal for a lot of the boys and you have to make sacrifices away from the field to win comps so that’s what we’re doing this year.”
Fogarty told foxsports.com.au that coach Ricky Stuart’s message has been simple this summer: the harder you work, the luckier you get.
“Stick’s message is to make sure you’re training your backside off and making sure everything is super competitive at training,” Fogarty said.
“In the wrestle room, lifting weights, anything to do with football, kicking, catching, passing, you’ve got to be competitive.
“We want to be a very competitive team and that starts at training then those habits transfer to the field.
“We’ve got so many players in the same position and it’s one per cent difference between players in their playing ability and getting that jersey so we’ve just got to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get that nod for the top 17.”
The Raiders came into the 2023 with a relatively settled side before fullback Xavier Savage broke his jaw in the trials to throw up an early selection headache for Stuart.
STRENGTH
Jack Wighton
The 2020 Dally M Medal winner is in the prime of his career and comes into 2023 brimming with confidence after winning a World Cup with Australia in November.
Wighton is one of the most dynamic players in the NRL and as the Raiders’ best player, their success largely correlates with his form.
The five-eighth was arrested alongside Latrell Mitchell after the pair were caught having a wrestle outside a Canberra nightclub while celebrating his 30th birthday earlier this month.
Before that incident, told foxsports.com.au that he’ll be “shooting for the stars’ in 2023 after learning plenty from his Kangaroos teammates at the World Cup.
Wighton also believes the addition of premiership-winning coach Michael Maguire to Stuart’s coaching staff will prove pivotal.
“Madge has been good, they’re both very full on and they both love their football,” Wighton said.
“He’s awesome, you can see how passionate he is and how much he cares, I’ve never met two more passionate people.”
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
Jordan Rapana
The veteran outside back is expected to start the season at fullback in place of the injured Xavier Savage.
But the 33-year-old is lucky to be playing in Round 1 after he was charged in the trials with a grade one careless high tackle and escaped with a $3000 fine.
Rapana has plenty of form at the judiciary and will need to fix his discipline issues this year as the Kiwi international is off contract at the end of the season.
Canberra pulled a late switch for their second trial as Sebastian Kris played fullback in the first half after Rapana was initially expected to replace Savage.
Stuart said pre-game that he wanted to see how Kris fared in the role, although the young gun had little involvement in the end with five runs for 33 metres in his limited stint at the back.
“I’ve got Seb Kris at fullback, Jordan will play on the wing and Harley Smith (Shields) will be playing left centre. I just want to know how Seb will go at the back.
“I know we made that change (with Rapana) last year but I wanted to keep the left edge combinations going last year, that’s why I didn’t make a change.”
THE RISING STAR
Zac Woolford
This late-blooming son of a Raiders gun made his NRL debut last year out of nowhere – at age 25.
Woolford admitted he’d long given up on his first-grade dream and was playing his final season of NSW Cup at Newtown when he was plucked by Stuart.
Canberra signed their former under-20s captain on a train-trial deal after Josh Hodgson went down in Round 1 and Woolford made his debut in Magic Round.
The son of Raiders great Simon Woolford went on to start 16 of his 17 games last season, with the hooker recording eight try assists and playing in two semi-finals.
“He’s an awesome story and a perfect example to every kid not to give up,” Wighton said.
“I remember seeing him float around when he was younger then he disappeared and come back and made his debut and he got the job done, unreal.
Woolford is nicknamed ‘Germ’ and his teammates unanimously agree he lives up to the moniker.
“He’s one of the worst bro… Germ is an awesome character to have around but he complains about everything, the ultimate pest and smart-arse. But he’s just that dude you need around in the group,” Papali’i said.
Tapine added: “Anything he’ll moan about but he’s a good bloke. Stick is good at bringing good blokes to the club, I’m happy for him and how he played last year and he’ll definitely get that opportunity again this year.”
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Jarrod Croker and Tom Starling
Croker was cruising towards a host of records after an injury-free first decade in the NRL, but disaster has struck over his past two injury-plagued seasons.
Canberra’s former captain has played just 13 games in two years, including just one last season, and he’s now stuck on 292 games.
Croker, 32, played in the first trial but wasn’t picked in the Raiders’ strongest side against the Tigers the following week.
The centre is stuck behind young guns Matthew Timoko and Sebastian Kris, and may have even slipped behind Albert Hopoate in the pecking order.
“I’ve felt for Crokes the past couple of years, he works hard and even with all the criticism he’s copped about retiring, people don’t see how hard he works just to try and have a chance to get back,” Tapine said.
“He knows he’s got to work even harder now with Sebby and Matty there playing good footy, just to get in the team, but he’s just working to play again.
“People are doubting him and forget quickly what he’s done in his career and what he’s done for this club.
“I feel for him because he’s so close (to 300) but he’ll do all he can to try and get back there.”
Wighton echoed the sentiment and said if anybody deserved to play 300 games for the Green Machine, it’s Croker.
“I love our skipper and fingers crossed every day because I really want him to get to that 300. His body is bashed but it’s been bashed by representing this club so he really deserves to get those eight games, I really wanna see him do it,” Wighton said.
Papali’i revealed Croker has done it tough despite putting on a brave face for teammates.
“It’s been tough because the wives talk and you hear through your wives chats that away from footy that he wasn’t doing too well. He was sleeping but still in pain and getting all these injections and I’m no different,” Papali’i said.
“We’re getting older and just trying to tick off a lot of things in our career we haven’t done and playing 300 games is one of them, winning a comp together is another one and I still believe that’s achievable.
Meanwhile, Starling bided his time behind veteran hooker Josh Hodgson only for Zac Woolford to produce a breakout season in 2022.
The pair are fighting to wear the No. 9 jersey in Round 1 but it looks like Woolford, who started 16 of Canberra’s final 17 games last year, will get the jump.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Xavier Savage
It’s been a brutal start to 2023 for this livewire after breaking his jaw in the trials, but there’s plenty to be excited about when the fullback returns in Round 7.
Savage, 20, scored seven tries in his 19 appearances last season and teammates are backing a breakout season when he comes back.
“He’s progressed a lot down the track, when I came here last year he was always at the back of the fitness drills dry retching and I wasn’t too sure on where he was heading as a footballer,” Fogarty said.
“Then fast forward now to this pre-season he’s up the front, he’s winning all the fitness drills.
“But even just little things with his diet and looking after his body, his knowledge of the game is definitely increasing and for someone so young he definitely has a lot to learn but I think we all know what Xavier can do.”
Wighton emphasised sky’s the limit for silky smooth fullback who has declared he wants to be known for both his defence and attack in 2023.
“A lot of natural talent and it’s a little hard work that’s going to get him over the line,” Wighton said.
“From what I’ve seen since I’ve come back he’s gotten so much better, you can see him really having a go and that’s what it’s all about.”
PREDICTED FINISH
11TH
BEST 17
RAIDERS
1. Xavier Savage
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matt Timoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Zac Woolford
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Corey Harawira-Naera
14. Tom Starling
15. Corey Horsburgh
16. Emre Guler
17. Pasami Saulo
2023 squad: Adrian Trevilyan (2023), Albert Hopoate (2023), Ata Mariota (2024), Brad Schneider (2023), Clay Webb (2023), Corey Horsburgh (2024, MO 2025), Corey Harawira-Naera (2025, PO 2026), Danny Levi (2024), Elliott Whitehead (2024), Emre Guler (2023), Harley Smith-Shields (2023), Hudson Young (2024), Jack Wighton (2023, PO 2024), Jamal Fogarty (2024), James Schiller (2024), Jarrod Croker (2023, PO 2024), Jordan Rapana (2023), Joseph Tapine (2027, PO 2028), Josh Papalii (2024, MO 2025), Matthew Frawley (2023), Matthew Timoko (2025), Nick Cotric (2024), Peter Hola (2023, MO 2024), Sebastian Kris (2024), Semi Valemei (2024), Tom Starling (2023, PO 2024), Trey Mooney (2024), Xavier Savage (2025), Zac Woolford (2024), Hudson Young (2024)
Development players: Brandon Morkos (2023), Ethan Strange (2023), Jayden Clarkson (2023), Zane Dunford (2024)
2023 gains: Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield)
2023 losses: Josh Hodgson (Eels), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs)
Coach: Ricky Stuart (2025)
