The Canberra Raiders took out the minor premiership in 2025, but that was quickly deflated by their straight sets exit from the finals series.
The men from the nation's capital had, frankly, an extraordinary season given where the majority of pundits had them pre-season.
That, maybe, shouldn't be a surprise. The Raiders have pulled off feats like that on more than one occasion over the years under the coaching of Ricky Stuart, who bleeds green himself.
But the Raiders owed so much of their 2025 campaign to Jamal Fogarty's leadership, and there were questions - legitimate ones it should be added - over whether they overperformed.
We aren't here to make a judgment on that today, but in this series, we are unpacking the big team list selection questions which could shape 2026 for each team.
There is no shortage of major ones for the green machine, even though much of the side looks as if it will pick itself for the season ahead.
Is the balance of the bench right for a finals run?
The Raiders really faded out during the finals series of 2025, and while it's difficult to place that on any one area of the team, it was clear they were rolled up the park in various stages of games against the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks.
The loss to Cronulla was somewhat understandable - a six-day turnaround after more than 90 minutes on the park in a physical, fast-flowing game against the eventual premiers can't have been straightforward.
But the fact they lost to Brisbane, and the way they lost to the Reece Walsh-inspired outfit was, and still should be, a cause for concern.
Whether they play Brailey or not, it appears the make-up of Canberra's bench heading into 2026 will be a dummy half, Simi Sasagi as a utility, and then two forwards in Matty Nicholson and Morgan Smithies.
Both of those players do a solid job, but neither is going to move the needle in difficult situations.
The Raiders may not have a player like that, but you feel they, one way or another, need to get Ata Mariota into their playing 17 on a consistent basis for the extra size and aggression he would bring from the bench.
