The Raiders are staring down the barrell of life with out Jack Wighton after the marquee celebrity reportedly signed with the Rabbitohs for 2024.
The 30-year-old has sacrificed $1 million to affix South Sydney, shunning the Raiders’ $4.4 million supply and the Dolphins $4 million contract.
Instead Wighton will hyperlink up with shut mates Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, hoping to win an elusive premiership in Redfern.
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Wighton has been Canberra’s marquee participant for a number of years, taking part in 225 video games for the inexperienced machine and successful the Dally M and a Clive Churchill Medal beneath Stuart.
Following his choice, Raiders powerbrokers reportedly lodged a proper criticism to the NRL, with chief govt Andrew Abdo confirming the deal can be checked out.
Now Stuart and the Raiders have a gaping gap at five-eighth subsequent season, with solely three playmakers of their present squad — Jamal Fogarty, Brad Schneider and Matt Frawley.
However, the Canberra membership even have $4.4 million conflict chest able to spend and can be determined to make signings now for the 2024 season.
The Raiders’ recruitment points have been properly documented all through their brief historical past — however with cap area to burn, Stuart might look to enhance his squad as entire.
The skilled coach might unfold these funds out, signing a playmaker, outdoors again or a ahead in a bid to strengthen the group from the nation’s capital.
Here’s the off-contract gamers the Raiders might goal for 2024!
LEWIS DODD
While Lewis Dodd isn’t a family identify in Australia, the younger halfback is making waves within the Super League. The 21-year-old playmaker delivered throughout the World Club Challenge to down the NRL’s back-to-back champions in pre-season with a matchwinning area purpose. The Raiders have a powerful historical past of recruiting English expertise and will once more look to safe a world star to play within the halves. According to LoveRugbyLeague, Dodd has additionally just lately signed with a number one NRL agent and is contracted till the top of 2024. But just like the Tigers did to recruit John Bateman, the Raiders must pay a switch charge to safe his companies early.
TEIG WILTON
Teig Wilton took over Wade Graham’s beginning left edge spot this season and hasn’t skipped a beat. The 23-year-old has been linked with a transfer to the Rabbitohs attributable to his uncle, John Morris, being assistant coach. In 2023 the gun backrower has scored twice and is averaging 110 working metres per sport with a complete of 10 offloads. Wilton might be the right substitute for 33-year-old Elliott Whitehead, whose contract expires on the finish of 2024.
KAEO WEEKES
Kaeo Weekes has discovered a house as Manly’s bench utility, beginning one sport at five-eighth to date this season. The 21-year-old was electrical within the pre-season problem and is blocked by each Josh Schuster and Tom Trbojevic on the Sea Eagles. The younger gun is extensively relating to as an NRL star within the making and might be the right foil for Jamal Fogarty’s calm and picked up model at halfback. However, Manly powerbrokers will probably do what they’ll to maintain their rising expertise.
JAYDEN SULLIVAN
Jayden Sullivan began the season at five-eighth for the Dragons however has been pressured out of the facet since Junior Amone’s return. The 21-year-old withdrew a launch request within the low season, as a substitute completely satisfied to study from star halfback Ben Hunt. However, as time rolls by Sullivan can be determined for normal first grade and he might excel alongside Fogarty together with his run-first mentality. Sullivan additionally delivered 4 strive assists over the weekend in NSW Cup to placed on a clinic towards axed Rooster Sam Walker. While Sullivan is contracted till the top of 2025, the younger gun isn’t afraid to make an announcement and will agains search for the exit.
LUKE BROOKS
It appears like each time an inventory of potential targets is constructed Brooks’ identify is on it. But might this lastly be the time the half splits with the Tigers? An exit might be the spark Brooks must reignite his profession, and Stuart might be simply the person to instil confidence again within the 196-gamer. Brooks has performed at each halfback and five-eighth in recent times, however his working sport is his clear power. Alongside, Fogarty, who’s a powerful organisational halfback, Brooks might have a run-first mentality and excel within the nation’s capital. The Raiders would have the ability to get the maligned half for considerably lower than his present $1 million deal permitting Stuart to spend the rest of the Wighton cash elsewhere.
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KURT MANN
Kurt Mann is with no contract for 2024 and has been considered one of Newcastle’s quiet achievers in 2023. Filling in at lock and at hooker within the absence of Adam Elliott and Jayden Brailey, the 30-year-old has been stable, recording 27.8 tackles per sport whereas solely averaging 46 minutes. Mann would probably play as a utility, however Stuart won’t be on the lookout for one other bench participant with three hookers — Tom Starling, Danny Levi and Zac Woolford — already in his squad.
SCOTT SORENSEN
Scott Sorensen has change into a cult-hero on the foot of the mountain, successful two premierships throughout his 49 video games for the Panthers. The 30-year-old is in his prime after two separate stints with the Sharks and Raiders, getting used as a beginning again rower by coach Ivan Cleary. While he could also be unlikely to depart Penrith, Sorensen might be an affordable substitute for Whitehead if provided common beginning soccer, which means Canberra might additionally recruit one other participant with the remaining funds.
DEAN HAWKINS
Dean Hawkins is a left-field possibility within the halves, however has confirmed a stable substitute when filling in for the Rabbitohs. The 24-year-old has performed solely 4 NRL video games and just one in 2022, however is one other cut-price choice to compete for the vacant No.6 jersey. Stuart might then signal a big-name participant to fill one other place.
ROYCE HUNT
Corey Horsburgh and Royce Hunt teammates? Unlikely however it will be an entertaining watch. Hunt’s present contract expires on the finish of 2024 and NRL golf equipment are at all times looking out for impression forwards. The 27-year-old has beforehand featured as soon as for the Raiders in 2017 earlier than combating his method again into first grade in Cronulla. Hunt has performed 41 video games for the Sharks and might be a cut-price prop to shadow Josh Papalii whose present contract expires on the finish of 2024.
CONNOR WATSON
Connor Watson is but to take the sphere in 2023, sidelined with a patella tendon harm. However, the gun utility might be the right man to make a transfer to the nation’s capital for normal beginning time. Stuart has utilised a number of gamers within the No.13 jersey, and Watson might make it his personal with the power of a center ahead and the fingers of a playmaker. The 26-year-old is with no contract for 2024 and with 125 video games of NRL expertise, he might be a very good match for the Raiders.
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NATHAN BROWN
The Roosters took a punt on former Eels ahead Nathan Brown, signing him in a mid-year swap in 2023. While he’s but to take the sphere, rugby league followers know the standard of the firey lock. The 30-year-old might make Canberra’s No.13 jersey his personal for a number of years, presently sitting with no contract for 2024. Brown was additionally frozen out of the Parramatta membership and has a degree to show. He might be on the lookout for common beginning minutes and Ricky might throw him a lifeline.
SHAUN JOHNSON
The Warriors playmaker has loved a resurgence beneath Andrew Webster. The 32-year-old has been central to his facet’s robust begin to the season however stays with no deal for 2024. While it’s unlikely Johnson will wish to swap to the nation’s capital, Ricky Stuart has loads of money up his sleeve to attempt to tempt him. It would enable Johnson to nurture the likes of Brad Schneider.
DAINE LAURIE
Daine Laurie has misplaced his place because the Tigers beginning fullback and can be gunning for a spot on the bench after a powerful NSW Cup show at five-eighth. However, that efficiency received’t simply enhance his choice possibilities, it reveals different groups that the 23-year-old has the flexibility to play within the halves. Laurie is with no contract for 2024 and with Jahream Bula’s emergence, he faces a battle to reclaim the common fullback slot. Instead Laurie might decide to depart Leichhardt and search for a brand new problem within the halves, doubtlessly within the nation’s capital alongside Fogarty.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au