Canberra Raiders 2015 Preview

The Canberra Raiders struggled through 2014, never really posing a threat. They were up and down, all around but they were never true winners and only narrowly missed the wooden spoon. They tried their best, and you can't take that away from the Raiders, but sadly they just did not have the strike power inside their roster.

They also lost some quality, most notably Anthony Milford to the Broncos, and haven't done enough to replace their experience and talent.

The Green Machine are in dire straits. Not many people are giving them a chance this season, and frankly, it is hard to see them even finishing 13th. The top 8 should be at the back of their minds, they should be focussed on moving up the ladder with the real threat of sliding down that one place to spoons of the wooden variety. They will need to focus on key combinations for the future this season, not to win.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another development year.

WHY THEY'LL WIN IT
Their halves pairing isn't flashy and neither is their game play. Both men are worthy of playing in the NRL but is that enough? There is no strike weapon that sets the world on fire (other than Wighton), there is just a bunch of long term developments to come. The backline offers some sort of hope and it isn't that bad. Former Storm winger Sisa Waqa joins the side with a lot of experience, Croker continues to be underrated by the rugby league world and both Lee's are exciting footballers. There is points to be scored through the outside backs of the Canberra Raiders, it is just about finding them when they count.

WHY THEY WON'T
Maybe, just maybe the Canberra Raiders will go on a golden run to shock the world. Maybe their forwards will say enough is enough and step up, becoming the underrated pack no one ever expected. Maybe Jack Wighton, the Lee duo, Sisa Waqa and Croker will use their individual brilliance to create the back line of the future. Maybe the halves will come of age and play so well that a Hollywood movie script will be written in the off season, produced for the 2017 off season. But who knows? The Canberra Raiders will have to find something special if they want to find glory. I just don't know where they can find it.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Paul Vaughan
Paul Vaughan is something of a project by the Canberra Raiders. He has been with them since his Under 20's days and has 41 first grade matches to his name. He was selected as part of the Blues Emerging Squad this year and that has potentially lit a fire in his belly. When a team is struggling, often the bench prop forwards are unsung heroes of a relentless comeback (Fui Fui Moi Moi circa 2009). The ability to get the ball from inside their red zone and carry it beyond the halfway line, playing the ball quickly and repeating is unheralded. If his drive can translate into form, then he could carry the Raiders early in the season allowing the men around him to pick up their pieces to become a formidable unit.

ROOKIE TO WATCH
Tevita Pangai Junior
TPJ is an up and coming Raider who is tipped to get a run in the 2015 season. He is a big second rower and has been with Raiders for a few seasons now. He was elevated to the first grade training squad for this season and Ricky Stuart moved to lock him up until the end of 2016. The Newcastle junior has been a part of many junior representative sides and represented the Raiders in the Auckland Nines.

PLAYER MOVEMENTS
GAINS - Sisa Waqa, Rhys Kennedy (Storm), Iosia Soliola (St Helens), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Roosters), Josh Hodgson (Wests Tigers), Sam Williams (Catalans Dragons)
LOSSES - Anthony Milford (Broncos), Reece Robinson (Eels), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Storm), Sami Sauiluma (Sharks), Matt Allwood (Warriors), Lagi Setu, Matt McIlwrick (Roosters), Terry Campese (Hull KR)

BEST LINE-UP
1. Jack Wighton
2. Edrick Lee
3. Sisa Waqa
4. Jarrod Croker
5. Brenko Lee
6. Blake Austin
7. Mitch Cornish
8. David Shillington
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Dane Tilse
11. Iosia Soliola
12. Josh Papalii
13. Shaun Fensom
Interchange: 14. Frank Paul-Nuuausala 15. Shannon Boyd 16. Paul Vaughan 17. Josh McCrone