Ricky Stuart makes eye-opening admission amid huge upheaval at Raiders
Stuart's Canberra side will lose close to 1000 games of experience by the end of the 2024 season.
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart admits his side faces a massive challenge over the next year, with the club set to lose close to 1000 games of experience by the end of next season. Veteran centre Jarrod Croker called time on his career in 2023 after playing a whopping 307 games for the Raiders, while experienced playmaker Jack Wighton (242 NRL games) has departed the club for a fresh start at NRL rivals, South Sydney.
Fellow Raiders veterans Jordan Rapana (201 NRL games) and Elliott Whitehead (189 NRL games) are also set to retire from the NRL at the end of next season, meaning Stuart's Raiders will be devoid of more than 950 games of first grade experience by the end of the 2024 season. The Raiders coach admits that his side will be undergoing a significant period of transition over the next 12 months and has made no secret about the enormity of the task in front of them.
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“Over the next 12 months we’re going to be transitioning into a new era,” Stuart told the Canberra Times. “We’ll be losing 1000 games of NRL experience with Jarrod and Jack leaving this year, Elliott and Jordan being their last season in ‘24.”
“So there is an enormous amount of experience that we’ll be losing and it’s going to be a very challenging period for us as a club. But I’m certainly looking at it as a positive and a massive opportunity. There’s going to be times in this transition... where there will be inconsistencies whilst we’re developing this young group.”
Stuart's admission probably goes a long way to explaining why he has ruled out a potential move to take the NSW State of Origin reins after being touted as a replacement for Brad Fittler. The Raiders coach was among a number of names strongly linked with the vacant Blues job before he made it clear that his focus was solely on the Canberra club.
No.6 role up for grabs at Canberra
Among the biggest questions facing Stuart ahead of the new season will be who fills the No.6 role after the departure of Wighton to the Rabbitohs. Matt Frawley also left the club at the end of 2023, meaning the Raiders will likely turn to a young gun to partner Canberra No.7 Jamal Fogarty in the halves.
Rookie Ethan Strange has experience playing as a five-eighth despite debuting for the club at centre in his one and only NRL game in round 24 this year. The Raiders are also hoping to wrap up a deal for versatile Manly playmaker Kaeo Weekes, who has reportedly already been given a tour of the Canberra facilities ahead of an expected move. Weekes has played nine NRL games for the Sea Eagles and could slot into the vacant No.6 role at Canberra.
Xavier Savage also looks set to feature more prominently in the Raiders backline next season after playing just one game in the 2023 season. The 21-year-old featured in 19 games the previous year but Stuart preferred Sebastian Kris and Rapana at fullback this season, although Savage's experience playing on the wing in the Raiders’ NSW Cup side in 2023 gives the Raiders more options across their backline.
Albert Hopoate is another player who will be hoping for more game-time in the outside backs at Canberra, while Stuart has confirmed that NSW Cup star Chevy Stewart is another young gun vying for a spot in Canberra's first grade squad. Canberra's crop of young talent will be given an opportunity to impress Stuart in pre-season training, with the Canberra coach revealing that will determine who gets "first crack" in the vacant positions.
“Xavier Savage had a horrendous year with injury and disruptions off the field, but he’s still a very young NRL player,” Stuart said. “We’ve got Chevy Stewart, who I’m hoping will taste first grade next season.
"I’ve got Ethan Strange, who is going to get an opportunity to take over as a No.6. I’m hoping Kaeo Weekes is signed with us, and they’re going to get their opportunity to become NRL players.”
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