Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

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greeneyed
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Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by greeneyed »

Young talent time: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns



The Canberra Times is reporting that Sebastian Kris heads a list of off-contract youngsters the club will look to lock in during the break for Origin II. It includes Semi Valemei, Harley Smith-Shields, Xavier Savage and Leo Thompson. The club is yet to make a call on Gareth Widdop and is yet to hear from the NRL on the Curtis Scott investigation.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Raiders_Pat »

How does Leo Thompson go?
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greeneyed
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by greeneyed »

Raiders_Pat wrote: June 17, 2021, 5:31 pm How does Leo Thompson go?
He's been good, very promising in NSW Cup. I had been worried about whether the club might not prioritise the retention of Harley Smith-Shields... rumours about other clubs being interested around... plus he's been injured. Glad to hear they're keen to retain him.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Dylan’s Raiders »

1. CNK
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Harley Smith-Shields
4. Matt Timoko
5. Semi Valemi
6. Jack Wighton
7. Gareth Widdop
8. Josh Papali
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Joseph Tapine
11. CHN
12. Hudson Young
13. Elliot whitehead

14. Tom starling/Seb Kris
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Emre Guler
17. Corey Horseburgh

Thoughts for 2022? I don’t think we will make an offer to Dufty.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by gerg »

greeneyed wrote:Young talent time: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns



The Canberra Times is reporting that Sebastian Kris heads a list of off-contract youngsters the club will look to lock in during the break for Origin II. It includes Semi Valemei, Harley Smith-Shields, Xavier Savage and Leo Thompson. The club is yet to make a call on Gareth Widdop and is yet to hear from the NRL on the Curtis Scott investigation.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239
If the Fifita incident is anything to go by the NRL will get back to the club (on Curtis) after the grand final.

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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Zipzip »

Dylan’s Raiders wrote: June 17, 2021, 5:54 pm 1. CNK
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Harley Smith-Shields
4. Matt Timoko
5. Semi Valemi
6. Jack Wighton
7. Gareth Widdop
8. Josh Papali
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Joseph Tapine
11. CHN
12. Hudson Young
13. Elliot whitehead

14. Tom starling/Seb Kris
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Emre Guler
17. Corey Horseburgh

Thoughts for 2022? I don’t think we will make an offer to Dufty.
I’d punt Simonsson and put in Xavier Savage. CNK to centre and Dufty to fullback.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Peter »

Sounds like the end of Croker and Scott if they want to resign HSS, Kris and the imminent move to the centres for CNK.

Where does this leave Timoko in the pecking order? We can’t keep them all.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Sid »

Peter wrote:Sounds like the end of Croker and Scott if they want to resign HSS, Kris and the imminent move to the centres for CNK.

Where does this leave Timoko in the pecking order? We can’t keep them all.
Timoko is already signed for 2022

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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Sid »

I can't read the whole article but players coming off contract not mentioned include
Aekins
Frawley
Havilii
Hopoate
Lui
Medlyn
O'Donnell
Rapana
Soliola
Williams

Not to say they're all definitely gone

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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by sprintman »

I thought Hopoate, Medlyn, and O’Donnell would be resigned but I guess there’s still time.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by woppadingo »

Aekins - bye
Frawley - bye
Havilii - would keep for 12 months but not needed so I would not be upset if he was let go
Hopoate - young so keep.
Lui - would definetly keep for another 12 months
Medlyn - dunno him
O'Donnell - bye I guess
Rapana - oooh..12 months more? puts in even though he has aged.
Soliola - sail off into the sunset SIa, or be a Raiders trainer?
Williams - 12 months more surely.

Of those I'd keep I would say they would not break the bank so worth holding on to.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by BadnMean »

1. Dufty/Simonsen
2. Valemi
3. CNK
4. Timoko
5. Savage
6. Wighton
7. The Great Unknown
8. Papali
9. Hodgson
10. Tapine
11. CHN
12. Young
13. Whitehead

14. Starling
15. Sutton
16. Guler
17. James/Kris
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by sprintman »

woppadingo wrote: June 18, 2021, 10:57 am Aekins - bye
Frawley - bye
Havilii - would keep for 12 months but not needed so I would not be upset if he was let go
Hopoate - young so keep.
Lui - would definetly keep for another 12 months
Medlyn - dunno him
O'Donnell - bye I guess
Rapana - oooh..12 months more? puts in even though he has aged.
Soliola - sail off into the sunset SIa, or be a Raiders trainer?
Williams - 12 months more surely.

Of those I'd keep I would say they would not break the bank so worth holding on to.
Might be wrong, but I don’t think Sia will be going anywhere after retirement
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by SeeBee101 »

BadnMean wrote: June 18, 2021, 11:20 am 1. Dufty
2. Valemi/Simmonson
3. CNK
4. Timoko
5. Savage
6. Wighton
7. Widdop
8. Papali
9. Hodgson
10. Tapine
11. CHN
12. Young
13. Whitehead

14. Starling
15. Sutton
16. Guler
17. James/Kris
I like this team a lot. A couple small changes..
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Timbo »

I’d like Smith-Shields in first grade because what I’ve seen of him he has a higher ceiling than Valemei.

1-Dufty
2-Smith-Shields
3-CNK
4-Timoko
5-Savage
6-Wighton
7-Widdop
8-Guler
9-Hodgson
10-Papalli
11-Whitehead
12-CHN
13-Tapine

14-Sutton
15-James/Lui
16-Young/Rushton
17-Starling
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by BadnMean »

Timbo wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:07 pm I’d like Smith-Shields in first grade because what I’ve seen of him he has a higher ceiling than Valemei.

1-Dufty
2-Smith-Shields
3-CNK
4-Timoko
5-Savage
6-Wighton
7-Widdop
8-Guler
9-Hodgson
10-Papalli
11-Whitehead
12-CHN
13-Tapine

14-Sutton
15-James/Lui
16-Young/Rushton
17-Starling
Only issue is the back 5 is now all smalls. Not one of them over 100kg... You need one winger or centre to be a bigger body in this lineup.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by The Nickman »

BadnMean wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:13 pm
Timbo wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:07 pm I’d like Smith-Shields in first grade because what I’ve seen of him he has a higher ceiling than Valemei.

1-Dufty
2-Smith-Shields
3-CNK
4-Timoko
5-Savage
6-Wighton
7-Widdop
8-Guler
9-Hodgson
10-Papalli
11-Whitehead
12-CHN
13-Tapine

14-Sutton
15-James/Lui
16-Young/Rushton
17-Starling
Only issue is the back 5 is now all smalls. Not one of them over 100kg... You need one winger or centre to be a bigger body in this lineup.
That's ok, when our attack is still hopeless one-off the ruck garbage and still relies on individual brilliance rather than any structure or set moves we'll realise this error and replace all these small, zippy guys with big lumbering brutes.

THEN we'll be a premiership force again!
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by SeeBee101 »

BadnMean wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:13 pm
Timbo wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:07 pm I’d like Smith-Shields in first grade because what I’ve seen of him he has a higher ceiling than Valemei.

1-Dufty
2-Smith-Shields
3-CNK
4-Timoko
5-Savage
6-Wighton
7-Widdop
8-Guler
9-Hodgson
10-Papalli
11-Whitehead
12-CHN
13-Tapine

14-Sutton
15-James/Lui
16-Young/Rushton
17-Starling
Only issue is the back 5 is now all smalls. Not one of them over 100kg... You need one winger or centre to be a bigger body in this lineup.
Do you think T'ou is big.....It's all about leg power and movement. I think CNK's tough carries and Timoko's similarities to T'ou should enable us to power up the field.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by BadnMean »

SeeBee101 wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:21 pm
BadnMean wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:13 pm
Timbo wrote: June 18, 2021, 12:07 pm I’d like Smith-Shields in first grade because what I’ve seen of him he has a higher ceiling than Valemei.

1-Dufty
2-Smith-Shields
3-CNK
4-Timoko
5-Savage
6-Wighton
7-Widdop
8-Guler
9-Hodgson
10-Papalli
11-Whitehead
12-CHN
13-Tapine

14-Sutton
15-James/Lui
16-Young/Rushton
17-Starling
Only issue is the back 5 is now all smalls. Not one of them over 100kg... You need one winger or centre to be a bigger body in this lineup.
Do you think T'ou is big.....It's all about leg power and movement. I think CNK's tough carries and Timoko's similarities to T'ou should enable us to power up the field.
Going in with all smalls is not a great idea imo- from a kick defusing and a yards perspective. Yes small players can make yards (Mansour was pretty good). But I'd much rather have some balance and variety in the back 5. Jordy Raps also made yards and had some pace and he was 2 inches taller and 100kg+ ;)
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by greeneyed »

Some thoughts on retention... I'm not focussed on whether they are top 30, more the players I'd really like to see stay with the club. A lot of juniors on the priority retention list, and I'm not sure what the contract durations are for some of them. Might not even be an issue, but looks like it is for Savage and Thompson.

These would be my priority retentions (top three at least on top 30 deals):

Sebastian Kris - contract duration unknown, believed to be end 2021
Harley Smith Shields - end 2021
Semi Valemei - end 2021
Xavier Savage
Trey Mooney
Jayden Clarkson
Adrian Trevilyan
Brad Schneider
Leo Thompson
Clay Webb

Players to keep if there is space in the top 30 (or in NSW Cup)

Sam Williams - end 2021
Jordan Rapana - end 2021
Matt Frawley - end 2021
Kai O'Donnell

Release... or on deals outside top 30

Siliva Havili - end 2021
Dunamis Lui - end 2021
Caleb Aekins - end 2021
Albert Hopoate
Darby Medlyn
Adam Cook

Retirement

Iosia Soliola - end 2021

Not long ago, I would have said it is time for Jordan Rapana to retire. I don't think so after the first half of this season.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Raiders666 »

You don't rate Caleb Esera? GE
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by afgtnk »

I don't get where the Esera hype comes from. Seems like the kind of kid who dominates juniors by virtue of being bigger than everyone else.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Raiders666 »

afgtnk wrote: June 18, 2021, 3:50 pm I don't get where the Esera hype comes from. Seems like the kind of kid who dominates juniors by virtue of being bigger than everyone else.
But you rate Luke Brooks
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by greeneyed »

Raiders666 wrote: June 18, 2021, 3:41 pm You don't rate Caleb Esera? GE
Absolutely I do, he's just not on the list of players with contracts about to expire (possibly). Not sure what his contract status is, but I'm desperate to see him retained.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by greeneyed »

afgtnk wrote: June 18, 2021, 3:50 pm I don't get where the Esera hype comes from. Seems like the kind of kid who dominates juniors by virtue of being bigger than everyone else.
He is bigger than everyone else in the juniors, but he's a very talented player. He'll also be bigger than most NRL players too.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by afgtnk »

Mooney's well ahead of Esera IMO, and they're coming through at the same time. Esera certainly isn't going to cut it on the edge at NRL level.
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Bloody_Burnham »

On Esera, as I understand he has been playing Canberra Raiders cup for Yass the last few weeks. Does anybody have any insight into why he can't get a crack in NSW cup again? Being a big bloke has Esera been struggling with the speed of NSW cup or fitness?
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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by bonehead »

Bloody_Burnham wrote:On Esera, as I understand he has been playing Canberra Raiders cup for Yass the last few weeks. Does anybody have any insight into why he can't get a crack in NSW cup again? Being a big bloke has Esera been struggling with the speed of NSW cup or fitness?
huge future but needs some physical development time

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Re: Raiders looking to re-sign a host of young guns

Post by Botman »

afgtnk wrote: June 18, 2021, 3:50 pm I don't get where the Esera hype comes from. Seems like the kind of kid who dominates juniors by virtue of being bigger than everyone else.
I call it the "Not many on the planet" scale
As in, there is very few people walking the RL planet who are big as him, have his skill and move like him. He has RARE physical traits. Being big is part of it, but that's certainly not the only thing he brings to the table.
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