Phil Rothfield believes a failed bid for Gold Coast ahead David Fifita speaks volumes to the largest downside at Canberra because the highlight turned to the nation’s capital on Monday night time.
Speaking on NRL 360 within the wake of the Raiders’ humiliating collapse towards the Panthers, Rothfield argued that points with recruitment will proceed to carry Ricky Stuart’s aspect again.
The Daily Telegraph columnist additionally claimed the most recent defeat was a “bad sign” after star five-eighth Jack Wighton revealed his want to check himself on the open market earlier within the week.
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“They are bad signs, particularly with their marquee man Jack Wighton on the open market or looking to extend elsewhere,” Rothfield mentioned.
“They tell me as much as it is about money he also wants a premiership ring one day and you look at that Canberra side and there is concern about the roster. In their favour, they have a very strong SG Ball side leading the competition, 18-year-olds though, they’re not ready for NRL.
“They have a recruitment problem and it’s got nothing to do with Ricky or Don Furner. It’s geographical. They brought in Poms — Bateman, Williams and Whitehead — but they haven’t been able to land big names because no one wants to live in the national capital in the middle of winter.”
Rothfield mentioned that time was solely additional illustrated within the membership’s failed pursuit of Fifita, who ended up staying on the Gold Coast as a substitute.
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“Ricky Stuart was on the Gold Coast in January,” Rothfield added.
“He met up with David Fifita, the most explosive forward in the game, he did a terrific sell for what he had on offer at Canberra. But he didn’t want to move to the national capital, simple as that.”
James Hooper reported again in January that Canberra had tabled a proposal across the $2.7 million mark over three years to strive lure Fifita to the nation’s capital.
Stuart, in the meantime, advised Hooper on the time that he believed Fifita can be a “perfect fit” on the membership.
“I’ve had time with David and his family,” Stuart mentioned.
“David’s got a big decision to make and we’ve told him why we believe he’d be a perfect fit at the Raiders. We’re very fortunate that we’ve got an extremely experienced, talented forward pack and adding David would only make us even stronger.
“I’ve told David I believe our leaders could really benefit him.”
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Even if Canberra added Fifita although, each Rothfield and NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent steered the Raiders would have struggled anyway this 12 months with an inferior backbone to the remainder of the league.
“The spine is the reason why the score was able to be put on them,” Kent mentioned.
“Once Penrith was able to get on a roll and Canberra just needed someone to get through the six tackles and kick to the corner, there was no one there that could do it.
“There was no one there who could take charge like they needed to do and that’s the problem. It’s a very inexperienced spine.”
Of course, that backbone might solely lose extra expertise ought to Wighton go away whereas accidents to Xavier Savage, Jamal Fogarty and most lately Matt Frawley have additionally taken their toll.
But The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel questioned whether or not Fogarty is the appropriate halfback for the Raiders within the first place.
“I think the problem is we all know spines are the key these days, I don’t think in Jamal Fogarty they’ve got a guy who can get it done week-to-week,” he mentioned on NRL 360.
“I think he’s a solid first grader but if Ricky thinks he’s the seven who’s going to steer them to a premiership [it is an issue].”
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Fogarty is already signed till the top of the 2024 season and one other 18 members of Canberra’s squad are prolonged as much as that time at minimal too.
There are options that the Raiders might be about to maneuver right into a rebuilding section, though Kent argued that course of is already going down, therefore the disappointing outcomes.
“They’re at a crossroads because Whitehead is 33, Rapana is 33, Wighton is going to field offers, Josh Papali’i — how much has he got left?” Dan Ginnane requested on NRL 360.
“He’s been such a wonderful contributor. Are they going to have to do another Super League raid? Are they going to have to go to those lengths again because it seems like we’re getting close to rebuild time.”
“They’re already in rebuild time,” replied Kent.
“They started rebuilding last year. They’ve got to get games under their belt, their spine is very inexperienced. They’re going to lose these games from time to time.
“They have good kids coming through, it’s going to take some time to get there. The young guys in the team now still need more footy under their belt but the way they surrendered on Friday evening was unacceptable. They were poor on the weekend and they need to fix it up.”
Meanwhile, talking on Triple M’s ‘Saturday Scrum’, veteran rugby league reporter Brent Read warned he seems like issues “could fall apart” at Canberra this 12 months.
“It feels like they’re in a state of flux at the moment the Raiders, almost a rebuild,” he mentioned.
“Ricky will do well to hold it together this year I reckon, it feels like things could fall apart there.
“I’m not saying it will but it just feels like they’re on the edge of a precipice and could fall over it at some point. It’s going to be a real challenge for Ricky to keep things together down there.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au