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Warrick Nicolson | 07/02/08
VIDEO - Capital news for Canberra fans
AUDIO - Alan Tongue previews the Raiders' prospects
STATE OF PLAY
The Raiders dropped back to the lower rungs of the ladder in 2007 after making a stunning appearance in the previous year’s playoffs.
The team has thrown its weight behind juniors and young kids from other clubs in an attempt to recapture the lost glory of the golden years when the Raiders featured in five Grand Finals in eight years.
The 2008 edition may not reach that lofty goal but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that the team could make a run at the Finals rather than the wooden spoon.
Last 3 Finishes:
2005: 14th
2006: 7th
2007: 14th
ROSTER ROUND-UP
Canberra has spent several off-seasons buying big potential and is hoping the next generation is ready now. Joel Monaghan from the Roosters and Joel Thompson from the Storm are the two notable additions to a squad starting to find its own identity since a large group of senior players moved on in the past 18 months.
After a year in which his football did far less talking that he would’ve liked, Todd Carney faces a stern test of keeping focused on the job at hand rather than which team he should sign for he comes off contract at the end of 2008.
There’s little doubt the Raiders stood by Carney after his run in with police last year, because they see him as an outstanding talent capable of reviving the club’s fortunes.
Both management and fans alike would be stunned if the five-eighth decided to turn his back on them and leave Canberra. His partner in the halves will either be halfback Michael Dobson or five-eighth Terry Campese.
Both players were strong at times during 2007 but Dobson looks to be the front-runner entering the trials – a selection that would also keep Carney in his best position at pivot.
The backline is not short of potential but the team can’t wait forever for Phil Graham to emerge as a legitimate attacking threat and Monaghan is yet to really kick-on after his career year with the Raiders in 2003 when he scored 21 tries.
William Zillman will be the custodian at the back as soon as he is fully recovered from his knee reconstruction with Colin Best and Bronx Goodwin the backup options should Zillman not be ready to go for Round 1.
Best will also compete with Adrian Purtell, Brett Kelly, David Milne, Brad Cross, Goodwin and possibly Marshall Chalk for the wing openings.
Coach Neil Henry may give Joel Thompson a chance in the centres if he deems the backrow too full for the young man to crack.
A solid but yet-to-be spectacular forward pack might see some more press in 2008 if the team’s two most destructive forwards can put a full season together.
Michael Weyman and Thom Learoyd-Lahrs are colossal specimens, who have yet to string enough games together in the NRL to constitute a fair reckoning of their abilities.
If placed in the same line-up as Troy Thompson, Dane Tilse, Scott Logan, Glen Turner, Nigel Plum, Josh Miller and the team’s only State of Origin representative Neville Costigan – the Raiders have the potential to really do a number on unsuspecting opposition forwards.
Henry’s promotion of backrower Joe Picker last year for nine games could pay off in a big way in the future.
Skipper Alan Tongue looks set to reclaim his lock forward position but if the Raiders want to carry four big men on the bench he might see some spot duty at hooker behind Lincoln Withers.
The Raiders are reportedly going hard after Stuart Flanagan from the Tigers as their long term hooker which makes 2008 a vital year for Withers who could be on the bench permanently in 2009 if he has an average season.
STRONGEST LINE-UP
1. ZILLMAN, William
2. BEST, Colin
3. GRAHAM, Phillip
4. MONAGHAN, Joel
5. PURTELL, Adrian
6. CARNEY, Todd
7. DOBSON, Michael
8. THOMPSON, Troy
9. WITHERS, Lincoln
10. LOGAN, Scott
11. COSTIGAN, Neville
12. LEAROYD-LAHRS, Thom
13. TONGUE, Alan
14. WEYMAN, Michael
15. TURNER, Glen
16. TILSE, Dane
17. MILLER, Josh
FEARLESS FORECAST
Canberra enters 2008 without any great expectations being placed on them from the outside, but from inside the club the playoffs will be a realistic goal.
The Carney contract saga will only become an issue if the team starts the season poorly and the papers fill with rumour and innuendo over his destination.
The best the Raiders can hope for is a 7th or 8th seed for the finals but with a still developing squad that may be too great a task.
PREDICTED RECORD: 11-13
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th
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