The Queensland rookies you didn’t know the Canberra Raiders have signed

[greeneyed]

The Queensland rookies you didn’t know the Canberra Raiders have signed

Keyarn Pene (five-eighth, centre)

He was originally signed by Canberra in 2022 as a centre after scouts watched him play up in his age group in the Connell Challenge under 16 competition at Norths Devils. But this year he moved to five-eighth where he again shone. He has agility, is a good mover who has great hands.

Jaycob Kingston-Francis (centre)

The Raiders swooped to sign the Wynnum Manly junior when he was playing lock for the Seagulls under 16s side last season. But the Mabel Park SHS Langer Trophy player has moved to centre this season in the Seagulls Meninga Cup side. He has always been a Raiders supporter and his idol is Joseph Tapine.

Maika Poese (winger, fullback)

A fullback or winger from St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, he played Connell Challenge under 16s for the Brisbane Tigers in 2021-22, and upgraded to the Meninga Cup under 18s this season. He made his GPS First XV rugby debut on the wing for Terrace last season.

Kesaia Su’a (centre)

Su’a was signed by the Raiders from St Paul’s College in Auckland and will play for Ipswich SHS in the Langer Trophy this season. The youngster plays every match with the thoughts of his grandparents in his heart and playing away from them is the one regret he has in an otherwise successful move to Ipswich.

Loto Salei (lock)

Salei was captain of the Norths Devils Mal Meninga Cup side this season and will be playing in his second season of Langer Trophy with Wavell SHS. Salei is originally from Christchurch and then lived in Alice Springs before moving to Cairns. At Wavell SHS where he was one of the best players in last season’s competition.

Read more: https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnew ... 3677b15ab6

[greeneyed]

Long way round for Lauloto Salei

To say Lauloto Salei has come the long way around to play for Wavell SHS in the Langer Trophy would be the understatement of the year. A long way? Would you believe 11,469km.That is the distance from his home country of Samoa to Wavell Heights SHS via Christchurch, then his home of eight years, Alice Springs and Cairns, which launched his league career.

“I often reflect on where I came from. I never get ahead of myself and I think about where I started and I don’t take it for granted. Canberra came to me late last year and I signed a contract this year (2022). It is a blessing to get a contract with an NRL side.

Read more: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/ho ... 23c56e279c

Canberra Raiders sign junior centre Kesaia Su’a to three year deal: https://thegh.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35537

The Canberra Raiders have signed two more players from famous Brisbane rugby league school, Wavell State High, Lauloto Salei and Mark Tuialii: viewtopic.php?p=1869964#p1869964

[Matt]

Keep rolling in the youngsters and pray we find some good ones

[UncleDrew]

How many of these young guns have we signed and have not kicked on? Many of them! Jarryd Hayne’s cousin for one… I seriously question our recruitment strategy.

[NoMan]

How many of these young guns have we signed and have not kicked on? Many of them! Jarryd Hayne’s cousin for one… I seriously question our recruitment strategy.

That’s how it usually works. You’re lucky if two or three players make it from a SG ball side to first grade.

[Botman]

Some people will never be happy.

[gerg]

GE warming up those fingertips for the Origin period - love it. Before too long he'll be losing sight in one eye and frothing at the mouth.

But seriously, our youth strategy is probably the best way to go, but we'll see in ... dare I say it - 5 years (plan).

[bonehead]

it's a numbers game, just roll the best juniors you can into your system and hope for the best. What was the number? 3 or 4% of the kids who played Toyota cup went on to play more than 50 nrl games?

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[Dr Zaius]

And then when that 4% do make it in first grade, clubs like the Roosters cherry pick the best of them

[Botman]

it's a numbers game, just roll the best juniors you can into your system and hope for the best. What was the number? 3 or 4% of the kids who played Toyota cup went on to play more than 50 nrl games?

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100% spot on
These all seem like talented kids worth investing in, and hopefully one of them hits

[Off]

GE warming up those fingertips for the Origin period - love it. Before too long he'll be losing sight in one eye and frothing at the mouth.

But seriously, our youth strategy is probably the best way to go, but we'll see in ... dare I say it - 5 years (plan).

He's not still banging on with that origin Bull is he?

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[-TW-]

How many of these young guns have we signed and have not kicked on? Many of them! Jarryd Hayne’s cousin for one… I seriously question our recruitment strategy.

You mean Leo Thompson who plays for the Knights?

Fair to say he's kicked on

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[Off]

Ballroom blitz on poor old Manoa Thompson.

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[FuiFui BradBrad]

How many of these young guns have we signed and have not kicked on? Many of them! Jarryd Hayne’s cousin for one… I seriously question our recruitment strategy.

You mean Leo Thompson who plays for the Knights?

Fair to say he's kicked on

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Thought he was talking about the tree dragging phenom that was Josh Thompson… or have I got the names wrong?

[Finchy]

How many of these young guns have we signed and have not kicked on? Many of them! Jarryd Hayne’s cousin for one… I seriously question our recruitment strategy.

You mean Leo Thompson who plays for the Knights?

Fair to say he's kicked on

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

Thought he was talking about the tree dragging phenom that was Josh Thompson… or have I got the names wrong?

*tree branch



Source: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 19487064c5

[BJ]

That guy was the cause of the single biggest deforestation event in Canberra since the 2003 bushfire.

[RedRaider]

We have brought a fair number of youngsters through to FG, Timoku, HorsPower, Kris and X (plus Papa and Jack). With plenty of others in the pipeline. Sometimes all the stars align and FG players are the outcome.

Every NRL side does it. I read yesterday about Manly who had Nicho Hynes and Jesse Ramien in their juniors and let them go. Club politics/ego can affect the development of quality players. I still remember us letting Luke Priddis go ........

[greeneyed]

Canberra Raiders sign Western Clydesdales junior back Bailey Nash



The Canterbury Bulldogs have signed the son of former Queensland great Jason Smith, Bud Smith. Smith Jr is one of the first players to link with Canterbury through the NRL club’s affiliation with the Western Clydesdales. But the Bulldogs have missed out on Clydesdales back Bailey Nash.

“Bailey Nash is another 18-year-old that’s been signed by Canberra. I’m upset we didn’t get him. He is a talent,” Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin, a former Bulldogs player, said.

Read more: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nr ... 9ccc231b2a

Bailey Nash
DOB: 28/5/2005
Birthplace: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Current Club: Highfields Eagles u19
Previous Clubs:
Western Clydesdales (Mal Meninga U18)

Junior Club:
Position: Centre, Five-Eighth, Fullback
Height: 181cm
Weight: 88kg
Occupation: Electrician Apprentice

Representative Honours:
Clydesdales Mal Meninga Cup U18 Best Back (2022)
Clydesdales Cyril Connell Challenge U16 Best Back (2021)
Qld Confraternity Shield St Marys College Toowoomba (2021)
Qld Confraternity Shield St Marys College Toowoomba (Captain) 3 x Player of
the match (2022)
Darling Downs Rugby League Representative (2020; 2022)
Qld Central Crows (2018)
Broncos Elite Player Development (2017-2021)

[bonehead]

handy cv at 18yo

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[Bluesbrother]

Fantastic. Love that we beat the Broncos and Bulldogs to the punch as well.