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Canberra have received another boost on the eve of the NRL finals with the re- signing of Elliott Whitehead and Ryan Sutton until the end of the 2022 campaign.

Just two days after extending the contract of coach Ricky Stuart, the Raiders on Monday confirmed two-year extensions for two of their key forwards.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/nrl-transfer-centre-canberra-and-cowboys-confirm-resignings-plus-signings-and-losses-for-every-nrl-club/news-story/3c3dd88eab483eb86f7343a44bbb611b

 

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5 hours ago, Farmduck said:

This is great news, especially for Sutton. By his own admission he didn't expect to play much this season but he's very much an integral part of the 17 - him and Tapine interchanging works really well. Really hope Williams can have a similar impact next year, even if I do feel somewhat disappointed Sezer will be leaving as a result. 

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2 hours ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

This is great news, especially for Sutton. By his own admission he didn't expect to play much this season but he's very much an integral part of the 17 - him and Tapine interchanging works really well. Really hope Williams can have a similar impact next year, even if I do feel somewhat disappointed Sezer will be leaving as a result. 

I'm a bit worried about the Williams recruitment. Quality player, but not a no. 7 and not a right-side player. He'll have to be both alongside Jack Wighton, who is a specialist left edge player and not much of a creative playmaker. The move will be a big challenge.

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6 minutes ago, ghost crayfish said:

I'm a bit worried about the Williams recruitment. Quality player, but not a no. 7 and not a right-side player. He'll have to be both alongside Jack Wighton, who is a specialist left edge player and not much of a creative playmaker. The move will be a big challenge.

I worry about a Wighton and William's half back combination.  While Wighton has improved his tactical kicking game as the season has progressed, he is by no means the finished article and it is a running line threat that is his biggest asset. William's short kicking game is better than his long and again he is more of an individual threat.

For me, I think the Raiders will lack game management next year which was one of their weaknesses last season.

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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

I worry about a Wighton and William's half back combination.  While Wighton has improved his tactical kicking game as the season has progressed, he is by no means the finished article and it is a running line threat that is his biggest asset. William's short kicking game is better than his long and again he is more of an individual threat.

For me, I think the Raiders will lack game management next year which was one of their weaknesses last season.

Totally agree. I think if possible they should keep Seizer, pair him with Williams and put Wighton at centre. As damaging as he can be, I'd move Joey Leilua on (or use him as an impact player off the bench).

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1 hour ago, ghost crayfish said:

Totally agree. I think if possible they should keep Seizer, pair him with Williams and put Wighton at centre. As damaging as he can be, I'd move Joey Leilua on (or use him as an impact player off the bench).

This might not be a bad shout. I know origin tend to put players out of position but I actually think he went really well in the centres. I think this might come down to Wighton himself - where does he see his future? Obviously started at FB, now in the halves. Will he be worried he's seen more of a utility player than holding down one spot if he's moved again? 

Re: Sezer, I'd love to see him in SL - A really intelligent player who can guide his team around the park as good as anyone in NRL. I'd love the Raiders to keep him but if not maybe a side like Hull would be a good fit? 

Edited by hunsletgreenandgold
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54 minutes ago, ghost crayfish said:

Totally agree. I think if possible they should keep Seizer, pair him with Williams and put Wighton at centre. As damaging as he can be, I'd move Joey Leilua on (or use him as an impact player off the bench).

I agree with the point of Leilua.  While he can be utterly devastating at times he can equally be a liability with his discipline... both his discipline with ball control and his foul play.

I don't think it is any coincidence that the Raiders have got over the line in tight games more often this year as their discipline has improved massively.  I just don't think a player like Leilua fits into this.

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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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5 hours ago, Dunbar said:

I agree with the point of Leilua.  While he can be utterly devastating at times he can equally be a liability with his discipline... both his discipline with ball control and his foul play.

I don't think it is any coincidence that the Raiders have got over the line in tight games more often this year as their discipline has improved massively.  I just don't think a player like Leilua fits into this.

There's a possibility that Rapana may be leaving, so Canberra probably wouldn't want to replace that side of their attack wholesale. But yes, Leilua's a big daft git who can pull out some marvellous attacking skills before acting like an idiot and hurting the team's cause.

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Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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If Canberra wins the NRL Grand Final this year, or even makes the ultimate game, there will be huge pressure for the club to retain Aiden Sezer. That will create problems for George Williams getting a run every week, because nobody in his right mind will move the star no. 6 Jack Wighton to centre in place of either goal kicking captain Jarrod Croker, or lethal strike weapon B.J. Leilua.

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1 hour ago, Manfred Mann said:

If Canberra wins the NRL Grand Final this year, or even makes the ultimate game, there will be huge pressure for the club to retain Aiden Sezer. That will create problems for George Williams getting a run every week, because nobody in his right mind will move the star no. 6 Jack Wighton to centre in place of either goal kicking captain Jarrod Croker, or lethal strike weapon B.J. Leilua.

Agree with all that except about Leilua - appreciate he's had a difficult season with injuries but even before then his ill discipline (both defensively and penalty wise) are starting to outweigh his go forward ability. Jordan Rapana will most likely move on after this year too. Leipana was unstoppable on their day. 

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On 11/09/2019 at 15:49, hunsletgreenandgold said:

This might not be a bad shout. I know origin tend to put players out of position but I actually think he went really well in the centres. I think this might come down to Wighton himself - where does he see his future? Obviously started at FB, now in the halves. Will he be worried he's seen more of a utility player than holding down one spot if he's moved again? 

Re: Sezer, I'd love to see him in SL - A really intelligent player who can guide his team around the park as good as anyone in NRL. I'd love the Raiders to keep him but if not maybe a side like Hull would be a good fit? 

I've thought that for a while.  I like Sezer and Hull certainly do need a general.  

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4 hours ago, hunsletgreenandgold said:

George Burgess drafted straight in to start for the Bunnies after initially being put on the reserve list. Really hope on a personal level he can have a good couple of games in the finals before his departure - he's earned that IMO. 

Never got into the game given Souths lack of possession and the Roosters total dominance

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4 hours ago, Davo5 said:

Never got into the game given Souths lack of possession and the Roosters total dominance

No idea why Tom Burgess was left on the bench for the first 50 minutes of the game. He provided some actual go forward for Souths when he finally got on.

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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Bateman, Whitehead and Hodgson were key players in a great Canberra win this morning. Hodgson gave away his usual dumb penalty but most of his game was good. Whitehead and Bateman are so solid on the edges for the Raiders. 

The win puts Melbourne and the Roosters in the same half of the draw so they can't meet in the Grand Final now.

I think the Raiders are a real chance of getting to the final now.

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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7 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

likely to play who?

The Raiders will play the winner of Souths vs. Manly/Cronulla.

You would expect Souths to regroup and win this but by no means a certainty. 

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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3 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

Could be a " Battle of Britain" for a place in the Grand Final

It could easily be.

While I would love to see the Raiders play Souths in the Grand Final and a big brit contingent in the final, these two were going to struggle to meet in the final with the Roosters so good.

I think Melbourne will see off the winners of the Broncos Eels game and so the Roosters and Melbourne could meet in a massive semi.

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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

It could easily be.

While I would love to see the Raiders play Souths in the Grand Final and a big brit contingent in the final, these two were going to struggle to meet in the final with the Roosters so good.

I think Melbourne will see off the winners of the Broncos Eels game and so the Roosters and Melbourne could meet in a massive semi.

Unlikely, but would love the eels to knock the storm. A bit of payback for their GF steal.

Rugby Union the only game in the world were the spectators handle the ball more than the players.

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Hi. Canberran Australian here. 

The 4 British players we have are incredible. We are so proud of these English boys. 

Bateman, Hodgson and whitehead are incredible. World class players who are dominating in the NRL. 

Everything has changed for the better with these lads on board for the Canberra Raiders.

Probably our best season in 25 years. 

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