Canberra Raiders 2025 season preview
2024 recap
The Raiders narrowly missed out on the top eight in 2024, as the Knights’ superior points difference pipped them when it mattered.
Inconsistency and a leaky defence were probably their biggest issues last season. Their best winning run was three matches, and that came right at the end of the year when their lowly points difference was already too big to make up.
2024 position: 9th
Key signings
Myles Martin (Newcastle Knights), Matty Nicholson (Warrington Wolves), Ethan Sanders (Parramatta Eels), Savelio Tamale (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Key departures
Nick Cotric (Catalans Dragons), Emre Guler (St George Illawarra Dragons), Peter Hola (Norths Devils), Hohepa Puru (Cronulla Sharks), Jordan Rapana (Hull FC), James Schiller (Newcastle Knights), Adrian Trevilyan (Northern Pride), Elliott Whitehead (Catalans Dragons), Zac Woolford (Huddersfield Giants)
Players to watch
Matty Nicholson is the latest in a long line of Englishmen to head to the Green Machine, and I’m expecting the 21 year-old to make a big impact. He’s already played almost 50 games in Super League, appeared in a Challenge Cup Final at Wembley and played for England, so despite the step up in intensity of the NRL, he’s fully ready for the challenge.
Corey Horsburgh spent most of 2024 on the outer and looked set to be playing elsewhere in 2025. However, he came back into the side late in the year and even crossed for a try in round 27, so this year looks like it’ll be a clean slate for him. What made his situation all the more strange was that he was in career-best form in 2023 and made his Queensland debut, so if he can return to that level this year, he’ll be like a whole new signing.
Young gun
Ethan Sanders is another new arrival looking to make a name for himself in first grade. The 21 year-old was highly rated by Parramatta Eels, but with Mitchell Moses cemented in the number seven jersey, he’s headed to the nation’s capital to claim a regular starting spot. There’s every chance he’ll make the Raiders halfback position his own by the end of the year.
Our prediction – 12th
I can see the Raiders being on the fringes of the top eight again this year, but ultimately falling short. On their day, they’re a match for anyone, but I think their squad’s a couple of big players away from being a definite for the finals.
