2022

All the news on the Canberra Raiders NRL team, all in one place

Moderator: GH Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Raider47
Jason Croker
Posts: 4751
Joined: April 15, 2009, 10:38 am
Favourite Player: Matt Timoko
Location: Queanbo

2022

Post by Raider47 »

Feeling like 2021 is done and dusted. Chances of sneaking into the 8 are no doubt there but for a team who was earmarked as a premiership contender, that is pretty depressing and not cause for celebration. So your 2022 team is...?

1. CNK
2. New winger
3. Kris
4. Timoko/HSS
5. New winger/HSS
6. Wighton
7. Williams
8. Papalii
9. Starling
10. Guler
11. CHN
12. Whitehead
13. Tapine

14. Hodgson
15. Young
16. Sutton
17. Horsburgh

Certainly it's the backline that needs a shake up. We need funds to secure a quality or two quality outside backs.

I think on the grand scheme of things letting Cotric goes was not the greatest call. Even if it did save us 50k. Especially considering we used that cash to secure another prop for God knows what reason.
Knotincelly22
Terry Campese
Posts: 83
Joined: April 18, 2021, 7:06 pm
Favourite Player: Adrian Purtell

Re: 2022

Post by Knotincelly22 »

Heads should roll for letting Bateman and Cotric walk. Jonneh may have ending up leaving midway thru this season on compassionate grounds anyway but to compound that with the Croker deal? It just doesn't make sense and it's not like you couldn't see this coming-keeping two 30yo backline players at the expense of a then 21yo NSW player. As for Leilua, at least the music is still inside him-you just need to extract it. Is Curtis ever going to throw a pass to put us into a home preliminary final? Doubtful.
kona_dream
Clinton Schifcofske
Posts: 572
Joined: May 13, 2010, 2:31 pm
Favourite Player: Jarrod Croker

Re: 2022

Post by kona_dream »

Really interested for those that have watched him play enough if Xavier Savage is a chance of playing regular FG next year. Being in the 30 squad he can play this year, but I assume after the SG Ball GF next week he will play NSW cup to get some contact against men. I really would love some real speed in our backs.
LastRaider
John Ferguson
Posts: 2383
Joined: March 31, 2018, 9:30 pm

Re: 2022

Post by LastRaider »

Like the Roosters cutting Flanagan, we need to cut Williams and get into the halves battle. Reynolds, Johnson and Moses off contract next year. Even Benj Marshall should be considered


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
User avatar
bonehead
Laurie Daley
Posts: 17436
Joined: March 1, 2005, 5:29 am
Location: Smelling The Shiraz

Re: 2022

Post by bonehead »

LastRaider wrote:Like the Roosters cutting Flanagan, we need to cut Williams and get into the halves battle. Reynolds, Johnson and Moses off contract next year. Even Benj Marshall should be considered


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
what a piss take, George is close to our best every week and the service from dummy half as much as anything is destroying his runner's timing. Time and again last night he had to stop or reach back for the pass.
George was the only bloke pushing up his tries last week and again this week, Aekins must get in around for offloads too.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Edrick The Entertainer
User avatar
BJ
Steve Walters
Posts: 7687
Joined: February 2, 2007, 12:14 pm

Re: 2022

Post by BJ »

Yep agree Bonehead, George just needs to straighten his attack. He’ll come good.

I can’t place too much blame on the Hooker though, as I also think George needs to be catching the ball on the move as ‘stand and catch’ is fine in ESL but not against fast moving NRL defences.

George needs to watch some old video of how Thurston often received the ball from his Hooker.
Braddrew
Gary Coyne
Posts: 124
Joined: March 26, 2015, 8:13 pm
Favourite Player: Mark McLinden

Re: 2022

Post by Braddrew »

I wouldn’t be opposed to doing a mini rebuild this year to have a look at some kids and see where we need to go to the market (players like HSS, Timoko, Savage, Webb, Mooney). Surely Super league would take Croker in a heart beat, that free’s up a spot for Kris. I think we should let Curtis Scott go if he can seek interest from other clubs ie Josh McGuire to the Dragons.

1. CNK
2. Valemei (give him time in FG, look at the progression of Ravalawa after a few seasons)
3. Kris
4. Timoko/ HSS
5. Savage/ Simonsson/ New winger
6. Wighton
7. Williams
8. Papa
9. Hodgo (outside 25m from the try line he still has it, he just needs to give quicker more direct ball to our halves in good ball)
10. Hors
11. Tarps (back to an edge for 80 min)
12. CHN
13. Whitehead (the game has changed to a ball playing lock)

14. Starling/ HSS/ Tomoko
15. Sutton
16. Young
17. Guler
User avatar
greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145091
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

Re: 2022

Post by greeneyed »

kona_dream wrote: April 25, 2021, 8:39 am Really interested for those that have watched him play enough if Xavier Savage is a chance of playing regular FG next year. Being in the 30 squad he can play this year, but I assume after the SG Ball GF next week he will play NSW cup to get some contact against men. I really would love some real speed in our backs.
I think we need to see how he goes in NSW Cup. He's got great speed, gets involved and breaks tackles. We need to see his defence more thoroughly tested.
Image
User avatar
Canberra Milk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 15203
Joined: January 6, 2005, 8:44 pm
Favourite Player: Leipana

Re: 2022

Post by Canberra Milk »

Fortunately, I think we do have the players there to gut our backline, if Ricky has the kahunas to do it:

1. CNK
2. Valemei - I also think he'll come good like Ravalawa
3. Kris
4. HSS - like the look of him, I think he'll make it. Timoko a very solid backup
5. Hoppa/Simo/Timoko/Savage - a bit more questionable here but we are warming the seat for Savage who will develop, it's just a matter of when. I think they can do a job for now
User avatar
Botman
Mal Meninga
Posts: 41988
Joined: June 18, 2013, 4:31 pm
Favourite Player: Elliott Whitehead

Re: 2022

Post by Botman »

We need two outside backs who are genuinely fast, they dont have to be Addo-Carr stuff, very few people in RL are that fast, but they need what i would angle beating speed... that being players who can beat a defender to the spot despite the defender having a better angle to the spot.
I dont know where we'd find them, it maybe that Savage emerges as one of them. But I think the first thing i'd do if i was Ricky today is send my most trusted talent scout (or the next best if Mulholland is not up for it given his cancer) to Penrith to watch their junior grades every week for the next month. Find the best kid who's progress is going to be impeded by that gun team and offer him a starting spot in FG next year.

Dont care what position he plays. If it's fullback, i'll play him there, CNK is versitle enough to play anywhere in the back 5 IMO.
Kris and either HSS or Timoko would be my centres, and New Player X, New Player Z, and CNK would fill out my back 3.

Wighton and Williams in the halves
Guler, Papalii, James, Sutton, Tapine and Young are my core middles. With Tapine and Young being the in game edge options should we need them
CHN, Whitehead are my edges but we need to looking at next guy here since you're probably expecting 2022 to be Whitehead's last

Starling and Hodgson at hooker, with a proper time share going on.
User avatar
Canberra Milk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 15203
Joined: January 6, 2005, 8:44 pm
Favourite Player: Leipana

Re: 2022

Post by Canberra Milk »

Trent Robinson was genius really, getting the Morris twins. Speed and experience. We need to pull a coup like that
Wiki Special
Brett Mullins
Posts: 1526
Joined: August 11, 2016, 8:16 am
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki

Re: 2022

Post by Wiki Special »

Bateman's loss can't be understated. We are missing his mongrel enormously.
User avatar
Roger Kenworthy
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11505
Joined: January 7, 2005, 10:18 pm
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki, J-Lo, Jordan Rapana

Re: 2022

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

Rapa is still our best outside back by a margin. I think he'll be here, being slowly phased out. The gap between what he's contributing and Simo is still fairly wide, 160m per game vs 100m. Simo has been injured in game a bit so maybe we can give him 115m if we're being generous.

I can't see HSS or Timoko as wingers. First of all, as we see with Kris, it's not fair to chuck specialists into a new position without preparing them. So they would need a full preseason in those positions. Second, neither seem to have the size of a protorypical modern winger. Timoko could perhaps turn into an outlier like To'o has.
LastRaider
John Ferguson
Posts: 2383
Joined: March 31, 2018, 9:30 pm

Re: 2022

Post by LastRaider »

bonehead wrote:
LastRaider wrote:Like the Roosters cutting Flanagan, we need to cut Williams and get into the halves battle. Reynolds, Johnson and Moses off contract next year. Even Benj Marshall should be considered


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
what a piss take, George is close to our best every week and the service from dummy half as much as anything is destroying his runner's timing. Time and again last night he had to stop or reach back for the pass.
George was the only bloke pushing up his tries last week and again this week, Aekins must get in around for offloads too.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk
There will be a sack William’s thread by the end of the year as the GH slowly realise his Super League plays just isn’t up to the benchmark of NRL.


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
User avatar
Mickey_Raider
Jason Croker
Posts: 4337
Joined: March 16, 2008, 7:15 am
Favourite Player: Big Papa
Location: North Sydney

Re: 2022

Post by Mickey_Raider »

On reflection, it was probably insane to think that we could essentially "run it back" in 2021 with what was essentially an inferior version of the 2019 team which didn't quite get the job done. All we have done is essentially downgrade on Cotric, Bateman and BJ.

This is before you factor in the rule changes which have come into effect since then and also the age and decline of 2019 first team players such as Croker, Rapana, Sia and arguably perhaps Whitehead and Hodgson too.

We were probably at the perfect equilibrium in 2019 whereby you are an experienced team, as opposed to just old.

If there isn't a wholesale regeneration of the squad over the next 12 months we are kidding ourselves and locking in further failure.

I would informally use this as a rebuilding year and give as much game time as possible to Timoko, Valemei, Savage, HSS etc. There is a big difference between these kinds of players coming into their third year of FG as opposed to a handful of games from 2 years prior. Load them up.
Up The Milk
User avatar
GreenMachine
Jason Croker
Posts: 4264
Joined: April 13, 2005, 2:22 pm
Favourite Player: Laurie Daley

Re: 2022

Post by GreenMachine »

Mickey_Raider wrote: April 25, 2021, 3:05 pm On reflection, it was probably insane to think that we could essentially "run it back" in 2021 with what was essentially an inferior version of the 2019 team which didn't quite get the job done. All we have done is essentially downgrade on Cotric, Bateman and BJ.

This is before you factor in the rule changes which have come into effect since then and also the age and decline of 2019 first team players such as Croker, Rapana, Sia and arguably perhaps Whitehead and Hodgson too.

We were probably at the perfect equilibrium in 2019 whereby you are an experienced team, as opposed to just old.

If there isn't a wholesale regeneration of the squad over the next 12 months we are kidding ourselves and locking in further failure.

I would informally use this as a rebuilding year and give as much game time as possible to Timoko, Valemei, Savage, HSS etc. There is a big difference between these kinds of players coming into their third year of FG as opposed to a handful of games from 2 years prior. Load them up.
Exactly my thoughts, well said.
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: 2022

Post by afgtnk »

A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
User avatar
-PJ-
Mal Meninga
Posts: 24719
Joined: May 8, 2010, 1:58 pm
Favourite Player: Josh Papalii
Location: 416.9 km from GIO Stadium

Re: 2022

Post by -PJ- »

I’m taking a gap year.

I’m in so much pain.
3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment..Old Faithful
#emptythetank :shock:
LastRaider
John Ferguson
Posts: 2383
Joined: March 31, 2018, 9:30 pm

Re: 2022

Post by LastRaider »

afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?




Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: 2022

Post by afgtnk »

LastRaider wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?




Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
Because we aren't getting anywhere with a guy who's slow, doesn't support the ball, can't ball play, and offers limited threat when running.
LastRaider
John Ferguson
Posts: 2383
Joined: March 31, 2018, 9:30 pm

Re: 2022

Post by LastRaider »

afgtnk wrote:
LastRaider wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?




Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
Because we aren't getting anywhere with a guy who's slow, doesn't support the ball, can't ball play, and offers limited threat when running.
I think we need a game managing half more. If we are going hypothetical I’m for Mitchell Moses at 7.


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: 2022

Post by afgtnk »

I'm all for upgrading whenever and wherever we can, especially in the spine, but I definitely would not consider Mitchell Moses an upgrade - lol.

Downhill skier extraordinaire IMO.
User avatar
Roger Kenworthy
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11505
Joined: January 7, 2005, 10:18 pm
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki, J-Lo, Jordan Rapana

Re: 2022

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

afgtnk wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:10 pm
LastRaider wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?




Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
Because we aren't getting anywhere with a guy who's slow, doesn't support the ball, can't ball play, and offers limited threat when running.
We got to a GF with him. Dufty doesn't have much history of being involved with winning teams.
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: 2022

Post by afgtnk »

Roger Kenworthy wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:49 pm
afgtnk wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:10 pm
LastRaider wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?



Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
Because we aren't getting anywhere with a guy who's slow, doesn't support the ball, can't ball play, and offers limited threat when running.
We got to a GF with him. Dufty doesn't have much history of being involved with winning teams.
That was two seasons ago - i.e. it's being stuck living in the past

By the same token, we made a GF with Sezer and Leilua - should we bring them back?

Croker was there too - should we keep him?
User avatar
Canberra Milk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 15203
Joined: January 6, 2005, 8:44 pm
Favourite Player: Leipana

Re: 2022

Post by Canberra Milk »

Reece Walsh debuting today at 18 yrs old. Savage's age shouldn't be a barrier in fact we should be planning him to play wing next year
User avatar
afgtnk
Laurie Daley
Posts: 10712
Joined: April 7, 2007, 1:45 am
Favourite Player: Crotic

Re: 2022

Post by afgtnk »

I've only seen snippets of Savage and read about him so will leave the more detailed judgement to the guys who have seen him play full games, but I'd like to think that the club will give him a decent run in NSW Cup this season against older and hardened footballers, once he's done with SG Ball.

Playing with guys like Sam and Matt Frawley would be great for his development, and without trying to pre-empt the potential action on Croker, should he be dropped then who better to learn professionalism from.
User avatar
Botman
Mal Meninga
Posts: 41988
Joined: June 18, 2013, 4:31 pm
Favourite Player: Elliott Whitehead

Re: 2022

Post by Botman »

Age should not be a consideration
If he’s one our two best wingers, he should play
If that’s next week, next year or 3 years from now
User avatar
kiwi raider
Steve Walters
Posts: 7675
Joined: March 31, 2008, 7:59 pm
Location: Christchurch, NZ

Re: 2022

Post by kiwi raider »

Joseph manu has expessed a desire to play fullback. Do you throw fullback coin at him and if worse comes to worst you move him back to centre and end up paying overs for one of the best centres in the comp
User avatar
GreenMachine
Jason Croker
Posts: 4264
Joined: April 13, 2005, 2:22 pm
Favourite Player: Laurie Daley

Re: 2022

Post by GreenMachine »

Amazing how the Roosters and Storm have remained relevant for so long...
Both clubs ruthless when it comes to turning players over..
Both inject enough change each year to create a different energy among the playing group.
Both adapted to the rule change by being dynamic in attack rather...
Ricky dropped the ball after the 2019 GF.

We really zigged when the competition zagged...
User avatar
greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145091
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

Re: 2022

Post by greeneyed »

Botman wrote: April 25, 2021, 6:09 pm Age should not be a consideration
If he’s one our two best wingers, he should play
If that’s next week, next year or 3 years from now
He can’t next week, he’s not in the top 30. But he’s also not ready.
Image
User avatar
Roger Kenworthy
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11505
Joined: January 7, 2005, 10:18 pm
Favourite Player: Ruben Wiki, J-Lo, Jordan Rapana

Re: 2022

Post by Roger Kenworthy »

afgtnk wrote: April 25, 2021, 5:02 pm
Roger Kenworthy wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:49 pm
afgtnk wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:10 pm
LastRaider wrote: April 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
afgtnk wrote:A hypothetical really

Dufty
Savage
Kris
Timoko
Simonsson/Valemei (unless we sign a new winger)
Wighton
G Williams
Papalii
Hodgson
Guler
Harawira-Naera
Whitehead
Tapine

Havili/Starling
Smith-Shields
Sutton
Young
Why Dufty when you have CNK?



Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse
Because we aren't getting anywhere with a guy who's slow, doesn't support the ball, can't ball play, and offers limited threat when running.
We got to a GF with him. Dufty doesn't have much history of being involved with winning teams.
That was two seasons ago - i.e. it's being stuck living in the past

By the same token, we made a GF with Sezer and Leilua - should we bring them back?

Croker was there too - should we keep him?
I'm not convinced Dufty is an upgrade. Seems a bit like Schif to me, stands out on a poor team but doesn't offer much threat to the top defenses in the comp. On balance I'd have him and CNK as a wash at the minute.
User avatar
Botman
Mal Meninga
Posts: 41988
Joined: June 18, 2013, 4:31 pm
Favourite Player: Elliott Whitehead

Re: 2022

Post by Botman »

greeneyed wrote: April 25, 2021, 6:20 pm
Botman wrote: April 25, 2021, 6:09 pm Age should not be a consideration
If he’s one our two best wingers, he should play
If that’s next week, next year or 3 years from now
He can’t next week, he’s not in the top 30. But he’s also not ready.
Yeah obviously there are rules in place
I meant that more as general principle of how the team should be
If a player is good enough to be in the team(which means ready) then they should be in the team
User avatar
gerg
Laurie Daley
Posts: 12611
Joined: June 24, 2008, 4:22 pm

Re: 2022

Post by gerg »

kiwi raider wrote:Joseph manu has expessed a desire to play fullback. Do you throw fullback coin at him and if worse comes to worst you move him back to centre and end up paying overs for one of the best centres in the comp
Manu. Would take him in a heartbeat. He is an excellent player.
Shoving it in your face since 2017
SimplyThePest
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
Posts: 58
Joined: March 12, 2011, 4:00 pm
Favourite Player: Jarrod Croker

Re: 2022

Post by SimplyThePest »

GreenMachine wrote: April 25, 2021, 6:10 pm Amazing how the Roosters and Storm have remained relevant for so long...
Both clubs ruthless when it comes to turning players over..
Both inject enough change each year to create a different energy among the playing group.
Both adapted to the rule change by being dynamic in attack rather...
Ricky dropped the ball after the 2019 GF.

We really zigged when the competition zagged...
The 19 changes came a year or so too late. Then it all changed again...
TongueFTW
Dean Lance
Posts: 872
Joined: August 3, 2008, 10:40 am

Re: 2022

Post by TongueFTW »

Savage is no where near NRL ready, but he is an extremely promising prospect. Needs at least a season playing NSW Cup, and needs to get his body ready.
Post Reply