2024 review: Canberra Raiders

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Sam Bourke looks at how the Green Machine fared in 2024.

Canberra came into the season very much in a rebuilding phase, with the well-publicised loss of their star player Jack Wighton expected to dimmish their chances of returning to the Top 8 in 2024.

It set the scene for a Ricky Stuart inspired backs to the wall performance, where everyone had written them off as a contender for another final's appearance.

Canberra got off to a solid start where they were able to right the wrongs of their 2023 semi-final exit in Newcastle by defeating the Knights in Round 1 and then making it two from two against the Tigers at GIO Stadium. From there it was a rollercoaster of results for the Milk, with back-to-back losses followed by an impressive 41-8 thrashing of Parramatta at home in Round 5.

The tables then turned in Round 8 when the Sharks put on forty unanswered points, and it became extremely hard to pick which Raiders side were going to turn up each week. In between those inconsistent scorelines, the Raiders lost halfback Jamal Fogarty for three months with a bicep injury. Despite the loss of their most experienced half, Canberra did respond with some gritty on the road wins over Manly, Canterbury and the Dolphins which saw veteran Jordan Rapana kick a dramatic golden point field goal to seal victory in Round 13. As gutsy as those wins were, shocking losses to the Cowboys (twice) and the Tigers while conceding over thirty points were just inexcusable.

Following Fogarty's return, Canberra rallied late in the season winning their last three which included a shock win over the premiers Penrith at home and then putting a dent in the momentum of the high flying Roosters, to show their fans that they can beat anyone on their day…but unfortunately at the same time their season also demonstrated that they could also be thrashed by any team as well. 

The Raiders slipped from eighth last year to just missing out on finals in 2024 on a negative for and against, but overall, it is fair to say they were highly competitive in a what can be labelled a rebuilding year where they couldn't find the momentum to take them into September until it was too late.   

Turning point

Round 24 saw Canberra travel to Townsville sitting on the edge of the Top 8 needing to prove they were worthy of finals football against fellow contenders North Queensland. The Raiders performance was yet again another capitulation, letting in seven tries in the first 60 minutes to bury their finals chances and led to coach Ricky Stuart describing the embarrassing display as a ‘boys' performance'.

While this was heartbreaking for the coach, the response next week from the team saw Canberra shock the Panthers at home before going on to defeat the Roosters and Dragons to end the season with momentum for 2025.

What worked

The Raiders forward pack was formidable and more often than not were able to keep their side in the fight. The front row combination of Joseph Tapine and Josh Papali'I were outstanding as they continued to make strong yardage and top the post contact metres each week. Many had club legend Papali'I picked for retirement, but he turned back the clock in 2024 and showed all in sundry that he will again be a force in what will be his 15th season in the top-grade next year.

Fellow club legend Elliott Whitehead announced mid-season that 2024 would be his last and he went out with a bang in the backend of the season. This was highlighted by a dominant individual performance in Canberra's shock Round 26 win over the Roosters and that was despite being Sin Binned twice in the match. Hudson Young was selected for NSW in Game I and his excellent form late in the season culminated in making his Test debut against Tonga post season. Zac Hosking and Morgan Smithies were also great additions to the pack, and will no doubt play even better in 2025, while the late return of former Maroons forward Corey Horsburgh also should give Ricky Stuart plenty of positives.

The negatives for the Green Machine's engine room were that they could not seem to get their strongest pack on the field at the same time, but despite this their go forward was easily their strength in 2024.

What didn't work

Traditionally Canberra have a reputation of scoring points, but that didn't happen in 2024 - where they found themselves equal last for both try assists and tries scored. While their experienced forwards were able to provide a platform on most occasions, the young Raiders backline did not capitalise consistently, averaging just under twenty points per game in attack.

The loss of their organising half in Fogarty from Round 7 to Round 20 was clearly an issue, as they struggled for answers after trying several options in Kaeo Weekes and Adam Cook in the number seven jersey. During this period, Canberra slumped to winning only three games without their first-choice halfback until he returned in Round 20.

While there were career years for Xavier Savage (15 tries) and Kaeo Weekes who eventually found a home a fullback in the back half of the season, the Raiders biggest attacking threat in Matt Timoko was stifled, and they simply must work towards getting him some more quality ball in 2025 if they are to improve this area of concern.

2024 week-by-week

Best player

Joseph Tapine was rightfully recognised for his outstanding season when he was awarded the Dally M Prop of the Year and his third straight Mal Meninga Player of the Year award. In what will be Tapine's tenth season in the lime green, he has officially been handed the captaincy following Elliott Whitehead's retirement from next season. The New Zealand front rower is already one of the game's elite front rowers, but given the passion he plays with, it will not surprise if the captaincy takes his game to an even higher level.

Rookies

After making his first-grade debut late in 2024, Ethan Strange hit the ground running from the outset with the former Blues Under 19 centre having to fill the shoes of Jack Wighton at five-eighth. Strange showed he was more than up to the task particularly in the first half of the season and was in the conversation for the NRL Rookie of the Year award. Strange has a bright future ahead of him after signing a long-term deal which will keep him in the nation's capital until at least the end of the 2028 season.

Chevy Stewart was another who was handed his debut earlier in the season playing three games in his preferred fullback position. Stewart held his own in his limited appearances and given he is only just able to buy a beer at the bar, his best football is yet to come.

2024 player record

Season snapshot

Coach Ricky Stuart
Captains: Elliott Whitehead (17), Joseph Tapine (8)

Biggest home crowd: 18,049 (vs. Sydney in round 12)
Average home crowd: 13,958

Top pointscorer: Jamal Fogarty (90)
Top tryscorer: Xavier Savage (15)

Club awards

Meninga Medal (NRL) - Joe Tapine
Meninga Medal (NRLW) - Simaima Taufa
NRL Coaches' Award - Kaeo Weekes
NRLW Coaches' Award - Chanté Temara
Peter Mulholland Rookie of the Year - Ethan Strange
NRLW Rookie of the Year - Relna Wuruki-Hosea
Fred Daly Club Person of the Year - Josh Papalii
NSW Cup Player of the Year - Albert Hopoate
Jersey Flegg Player of the Year - Regan Carr
NSW Cup Coaches' Award - Adam Cook
Jersey Flegg Coaches' Award - Mitchell Prest
Gordon McLucas Junior Representative of the Year - Noah Martin
Female Junior Representative of the Year - Claudia Finau

Looking ahead

2025 certainly looks to be a changing of the guard for Canberra as they farewell both their captain Whitehead and Jordan Rapana, which sees only three players (Papali'i, Tapine, Horsburgh) remain from the 2019 Grand Final side. Canberra has left one generation behind and looking to establish another as they have recently assembled some of the most promising junior rugby league players in the country. 

Joining fellow junior stars Strange and Chevy Stewart, will be highly rated Eels halfback Ethan Sanders, Knights forward Myles Martin, along with Dragon's speedster Savelio Tamale, who scored twelve tries and topped the line breaks in NSW Cup for 2024. Canberra also has rising hooker Owen Pattie on their books, who won the Jersey Flegg Player of the Year for the club in 2024.

While it might be unrealistic to expect the Raiders to win a comp in 2025, they have invested heavily installing their next premiership window and it looks promising.

2025 Best 17

based on current signings at time of writing

1.    Kaeo Weekes
2.    Albert Hopoate
3.    Matt Timoko
4.    Sebastian Kris
5.    Xavier Savage
6.    Ethan Strange
7.    Jamal Fogarty
8.    Josh Papali'i
9.    Tom Starling
10.   Joseph Tapine (c)
11.   Hudson Young
12.   Zac Hosking
13.   Morgan Smithies

14.   Danny Levi
15.   Corey Horsburgh
16.   Trey Mooney
17.   Ata Mariota