The Raiders’ 2023 season was a strange one to say the least.
Culminating in a heartbreaking 30-28 elimination final loss to the Knights, Canberra struggled at the beginning of the season before surging up the ladder to as high as fourth and then weakening late to nearly drop out of the eight altogether.
There were plenty who believed the Raiders didn’t deserve their spot in the eight, considering they fell in and because of their shocking for and against of -137. Remarkably, their biggest margin of victory was only 12 points (Bulldogs, Round 26).
Still, there’s something to be said about winning 14 of 24 games and their gutsy performance against the high-flying Knights showed they absolutely deserved their place in the finals.
Origin representatives Corey Horsburgh and Hudson Young signed extensions in what are big boosts for the club, however they’ve lost 2020 Dally M Medal winner Jack Wighton to Souths which leaves massive hole Ricky Stuart simply can’t fill because there are no superstars on the market.
Read on for the Raiders 2023 brutal review.
RECORD: 14 wins, 10 losses = 32pts (-137)
GRADE: B
What went right: Played finals footy.
For the fourth time in five years, Canberra made the top eight. There weren’t many expectations of the Raiders this season after finishing 10th in 2022.
But after winning 10 games last season, the Raiders increased that tally to 14 in 2023 with a grinding style.
The Green Machine showed plenty of determination and will to win at times, eking out a number of close victories in games they would have found a way to lose in previous seasons. But it was dire straits early, with Canberra starting 1-4 which included a loss to the Dolphins and a thrashing at the hands of the Panthers.
Not many gave them a chance heading into Suncorp Stadium in Round 6 against the Broncos, but they defied the odds with a 20-14 win, which was arguably the highlight of their 2023 campaign.
The win also kickstarted their season, with Canberra going on to pick up seven of their next eight games to catapult themselves up the ladder.
After leading the Raiders try-scoring list in 2022, centre Matt Timoko went to a new level in 2023, in what is just his second full season.
He upped his try tally (11) and was a mainstay in the Canberra backline, only missing two minutes the entire season.
Timoko is a powerful ball runner who proved a handful whenever he attacked the line, with his 108 tackle busts placing him sixth in the competition.
Corey Horsburgh was tipped for a big season in 2023 and he delivered with a career-best campaign which resulted in a maiden Queensland jersey.
Horsburgh earned Horsburgh a three-year contract extension (2027) worth around $600,000 per season.
The Raiders were also smart to lock down backrower Hudson Young on a deal that will see him remain in Canberra until the end of the 2027 season.
Club legend Jarrod Croker’s ability to play his way back into the NRL side and reach the 300-game milestone was a testament to his work ethic.
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What went wrong: Losing Wighton to the Rabbitohs.
This one stung. He’s on the wrong side of 30 but his class and ability to break a game open will be sorely missed.
Wighton spent 12 seasons in Canberra and while he fell just short of delivering the club’s first premiership in 25 years, the playmaker won the 2019 Clive Churchill Medal in a losing side.
Wighton’s final game for the Green Machine will always be remembered for a biting allegation that ended up earning him a three-game suspension.
Knights No. 6 Tyson Gamble claimed his opposite number bit him before Wighton said his arm was shoved into his mouth.
The Raiders veteran plead not guilty at the judiciary but the panel sided with the NRL and it’s now Souths who will be without one of their stars for the start 2024.
Canberra big men Josh Papalii (bicep) and Corey Horsburgh (suspended) missing their elimination final against the Knights proved costly.
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What they need: A superstar in the halves. Wighton is gone and they haven’t signed another experienced half, let alone one of his caliber.
Jamal Fogarty was brought to the club to bring composure to the halves but when their season was on the line against Newcastle, he had two field goal attempts charged down.
“Canberra should have won the game, to me it highlighted their lack of depth in the halves and not icing the big moments,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
“You could see that when it got to extra time I wasn’t confident and maybe that’s being a bit harsh but it’s just because of the halves, Fogarty in particular.
“I was worried, I thought ‘Who is going to take the field goal here? Who is going to grab this match in the finals and really get Canberra over the line?’
“You could see he had plenty of time (with the first shot).”
But Anasta saved his most savage criticism of Fogarty for the Raiders No. 7 missing a field goal at the death off a scrum.
“This was the big one, it’s really inexcusable for a half in a moment like this off a scrum when you’ve got 20 metres to work with,” Anasta said.
“I was nervous heading into extra time and Canberra definitely need to purchase some big-game players.”
Jordan Rapana came up with some big plays throughout the season but will turn 35 next season, while Josh Papalii’s best football is also behind him. It means Ricky faces a big challenge to return the Raiders to the finals in 2024
Who going? Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds Rhinos), Jarrod Croker (retired)
Who’s coming? Simi Sasagi (Knights).
