Raiders Pick up Promising
Queensland Player

The Fone Zone Canberra Raiders have lured another youngster from the Qld Cup competition, signing 21-year-old Steve Franciscus to a one-year deal today.

Franciscus, who represented his native Papua New Guinea in this year's World Sevens, comes to the Raiders after four seasons playing with Western Suburbs Panthers in the Qld Cup.

The tall and wiry outside back can play wing, centre or fullback and will begin training with Wayne Collins' Premier League team when he arrives in Canberra next week.

Franciscus, who played for Queensland at U'19's level in 2001, had been training with Toowoomba, during the preseason before receiving a call from Raiders Assistant Coach, Terry Matterson.

"I saw a fair bit of him when I was coaching Norths (Qld Cup)," explained Matterson.

"He's tall and he's very quick and very deceptive," he said.

"He's just started training full-time for the first time in his career with Toowoomba so it will take some time for him to adjust to the higher level, but we feel that he's a very exciting prospect," he added.

Franciscus may get his first chance to impress for the Raiders in the Club's opening pre-season trial match with the USA and Tongan teams at Seiffert Oval next Saturday (14th February).