The Canberra Raiders might be better off retaining players they have developed rather than trying to tempt big-name players. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Leo Thompson isn’t the first and probably won’t be the last big-name player to come close to signing with the Raiders only to balk at the 11th hour.
Thompson elected to sign with the Bulldogs over the Raiders after informing Newcastle that he was heading elsewhere after the 2025 season.
The Raiders had identified Thompson as a replacement for Josh Papali’i in 2026.
Josh Papali’i at GIO Stadium in March 2024. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
They will now head elsewhere in search of a replacement, but this is another indication of the battle the Raiders face in luring players to Canberra.
As the only inland city with an NRL team (although Penrith is 72 kilometres from the coastline but could be described as part of Sydney), it has become increasingly difficult to tempt players away from the coast and larger cities.
Over the years, a number of players have travelled to Canberra to see what was on offer. They have been impressed with what they have seen and agreed to terms, only to renege once they return home.
James Tedesco is probably the best known of these cases when he agreed to a three-year deal with Canberra only to walk away from the deal eight days later after being persuaded to stay with the Wests-Tigers in 2014.
Then there was Kevin Proctor who looked a certainty to join the Raiders only to stay with the Melbourne Storm.
It has also worked in the Raiders’ favour, with Josh Papali’i walking out on a three-year deal with Parramatta for the 2014 season.
Twenty years earlier, both the Raiders and the Warriors attempted to register Ruben Wiki’s contract for the 1995 season after he had signed with both clubs. The matter ended up in court, and Wiki went to play with Canberra until 2004.
In more recent times, we have seen the likes of Andrew Fifita and Leo Thompson tempted to come to Canberra only to walk away.
Raiders supporters strongly believe that the club should only sign players who want to come to Canberra and contribute to the community-first ethos the Green Machine has so successfully built over the past decade.
This is why recruiting players with potential at a young age is, in reality, the only path forward.
The Fijian market, which the Raiders used to great effect to recruit Noa Nadruku, is now one of the most contested for talent in the NRL and global rugby union.
Every club in the NRL is now also seizing upon every player with talent in the UK Super League.
Ethan Strange attempting to break through the Wests-Tigers defence. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Hence the investment in young players, such as Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes, is possibly the way to go for the Raiders.
Mind you, if both players were to hit the open market, there would be a scramble for their services given what they have shown with the Raiders.
With this in mind, the battle for the Raiders in the future could possibly be about retaining players they have developed into genuine first graders rather than attracting established talent.
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