Will EvansSeason Preview 2009 - Canberra Raiders
March 3rd 2009 04:55
Canberra Raiders
Perennial tipsters' favourite for the wooden spoon, Canberra were the surprise packet of the 2008 premiership. Despite several seemingly insurmountable hurdles, including Todd Carney's sacking, the announcement that their coach would be joining the Cowboys in 2009, and a crippling injury toll, the Raiders defied the odds and the critics to reach the finals, and became the darlings of the NRL in the process. That hasn't helped the club's cause in experts' top-8 predictions, however. With a rookie coach and several key player losses in the off-season, the Green Machine faces an uphill battle to replicate last year's success.
Strengths: The Raiders transformed themselves into the hottest attacking outfit in the competition at the back end of 2008. Terry Campese and Joel Monaghan became the club's first Kangaroo representatives since Jason Croker in 2000 when they were picked for the centenary World Cup, and are Canberra's main strike weapons. The Raiders' partnership with 2008 Queensland Cup premiers Souths-Logan were extremely beneficial last year, particularly when injuries hit hard late in the season, and could play a vital role again in 2009.
Weaknesses: Depth is major problem. Options in the key playmaking positions are limited, while the Raiders can't afford another injury crisis in the outside backs department. Mentoring such an inexperienced squad will provide a massive challenge for first-year coach David Furner.
Recruitment: Not a great off-season in the player movement stakes for Canberra. William Zillman, Colin Best, Marshall Chalk and Bronx Goodwin have left the backline cupboard looking bare, with only the signing of unheralded Souths recruit Sam Huihahau to bolster the ranks. Maroons' hopeful David Shillington is the marquee signing for the club, and offsets the loss of Michael Weyman, while NZ international Bronson Harrison joins a sizable back-row queue. Hooker Stuart Flanagan is an able replacement for Storm-bound Ryan Hinchcliffe.
Youth brigade: There is a host of young forwards in the nation's capital starting to make a name for themselves, including Trevor Thurling and 2008 Prime Minister's XIII rep Joe Picker. David Milne and Adrian Purtell were revelations in the backs last year, while powerhouse winger Justin Carney was one of the NRL's most impressive rookies of last season. Canberra won the inaugural Toyota Cup premiership in 2008, and will be looking to some of the young stars of that side to make the step up to first grade.
Rep drain: Monaghan and Campese are frontline contenders for NSW selection, and Shillington can make the step up to Origin level for Queensland by taking on the enforcer role at Canberra. Inspirational 2008 Dally M Captain and Lock of the Year Alan Tongue is one of the NRL's most valuable players and deserves a rep call-up, but is likely to again be overlooked.
X-factor: The fitness and form of key triumvirate Terry Campese, Alan Tongue and Joel Monaghan is vital to the Raiders' campaign. Tongue is an NRL ironman and rarely puts in a sub-par display, but they need attacking trumps Campese and Monaghan healthy and firing to make an impression on the top-8.
Under pressure: Halfback Marc Herbert was very impressive after taking over from the sacked Todd Carney late last season, but was injured after just five games. Despite his inexperience, Herbert will be entrusted with directing the Raiders around the park. Time will tell if the responsibility is too much for the 22-year old.
Ready to explode: Five-eighth Terry Campese was the form player of the NRL late in 2008, producing several scintillating displays, scoring 36 points in one match, and finishing fourth equal in the Dally M Player of the Year count. His Australian debut at the World Cup ended abruptly with an eye injury, but that small taste of rep footy could take Campese's performances to another level in 2009.
Predictions: Certain to punch above their weight in 2009, as they always do, but a finals berth should be beyond the Raiders. Anything is possible with this side however, and if they can avoid a heavy injury toll, Canberra could leapfrog some of the more fancied sides in the competition.
Twelfth
Perennial tipsters' favourite for the wooden spoon, Canberra were the surprise packet of the 2008 premiership. Despite several seemingly insurmountable hurdles, including Todd Carney's sacking, the announcement that their coach would be joining the Cowboys in 2009, and a crippling injury toll, the Raiders defied the odds and the critics to reach the finals, and became the darlings of the NRL in the process. That hasn't helped the club's cause in experts' top-8 predictions, however. With a rookie coach and several key player losses in the off-season, the Green Machine faces an uphill battle to replicate last year's success.
Strengths: The Raiders transformed themselves into the hottest attacking outfit in the competition at the back end of 2008. Terry Campese and Joel Monaghan became the club's first Kangaroo representatives since Jason Croker in 2000 when they were picked for the centenary World Cup, and are Canberra's main strike weapons. The Raiders' partnership with 2008 Queensland Cup premiers Souths-Logan were extremely beneficial last year, particularly when injuries hit hard late in the season, and could play a vital role again in 2009.
Weaknesses: Depth is major problem. Options in the key playmaking positions are limited, while the Raiders can't afford another injury crisis in the outside backs department. Mentoring such an inexperienced squad will provide a massive challenge for first-year coach David Furner.
Recruitment: Not a great off-season in the player movement stakes for Canberra. William Zillman, Colin Best, Marshall Chalk and Bronx Goodwin have left the backline cupboard looking bare, with only the signing of unheralded Souths recruit Sam Huihahau to bolster the ranks. Maroons' hopeful David Shillington is the marquee signing for the club, and offsets the loss of Michael Weyman, while NZ international Bronson Harrison joins a sizable back-row queue. Hooker Stuart Flanagan is an able replacement for Storm-bound Ryan Hinchcliffe.
Youth brigade: There is a host of young forwards in the nation's capital starting to make a name for themselves, including Trevor Thurling and 2008 Prime Minister's XIII rep Joe Picker. David Milne and Adrian Purtell were revelations in the backs last year, while powerhouse winger Justin Carney was one of the NRL's most impressive rookies of last season. Canberra won the inaugural Toyota Cup premiership in 2008, and will be looking to some of the young stars of that side to make the step up to first grade.
Rep drain: Monaghan and Campese are frontline contenders for NSW selection, and Shillington can make the step up to Origin level for Queensland by taking on the enforcer role at Canberra. Inspirational 2008 Dally M Captain and Lock of the Year Alan Tongue is one of the NRL's most valuable players and deserves a rep call-up, but is likely to again be overlooked.
X-factor: The fitness and form of key triumvirate Terry Campese, Alan Tongue and Joel Monaghan is vital to the Raiders' campaign. Tongue is an NRL ironman and rarely puts in a sub-par display, but they need attacking trumps Campese and Monaghan healthy and firing to make an impression on the top-8.
Under pressure: Halfback Marc Herbert was very impressive after taking over from the sacked Todd Carney late last season, but was injured after just five games. Despite his inexperience, Herbert will be entrusted with directing the Raiders around the park. Time will tell if the responsibility is too much for the 22-year old.
Ready to explode: Five-eighth Terry Campese was the form player of the NRL late in 2008, producing several scintillating displays, scoring 36 points in one match, and finishing fourth equal in the Dally M Player of the Year count. His Australian debut at the World Cup ended abruptly with an eye injury, but that small taste of rep footy could take Campese's performances to another level in 2009.
Predictions: Certain to punch above their weight in 2009, as they always do, but a finals berth should be beyond the Raiders. Anything is possible with this side however, and if they can avoid a heavy injury toll, Canberra could leapfrog some of the more fancied sides in the competition.
Twelfth
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