The Canberra Raiders have had an incredible 2025 season, taking out the minor premiership, but attention will now quickly turn towards keeping themselves at the top of the pile in the years to come.
Ricky Stuart's side has a nice balance of experience and youth on the way through, but that is still set to shuffle, with some of that experience heading towards the end of their careers.
There are also questions about some of the still off-contract players in the Nation's capital and where they stand on the salary cap.
When it comes to attracting talent, there is also the age-old problem that haunts the Raiders.
How do you convince people to live in Canberra?
Success breeds a desire to do just that though, and so things could be about to turn a corner on the recruitment front for the Green Machine.
Current Canberra Raiders 2027 squad
Jayden Brailey, Sione Finau, Corey Horsburgh, Zac Hosking, Sebastian Kris, Myles Martin, Noah Martin, Matty Nicholson, Owen Pattie, Vena Patuki-Case, Ethan Sanders, Simi Sasagi, Xavier Savage, Tom Starling, Ethan Strange, Savelio Tamale, Joseph Tapine, Kaeo Weekes, Hudson Young
Off-contract at the end of 2026
Michael Asomua, Jake Clydsdale, Adam Cook, Ata Mariota, Josh Papalii, Joe Roddy, Morgan Smithies, Manaia Waitere
Current best 17 for 2027
1. Kaeo Weekes
2. Xavier Savage
3. Sebastian Kris
4. Savelio Tamale
5. Sione Finau
6. Ethan Strange
7. Ethan Sanders
8. Corey Horsburgh
9. Tom Starling
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Zac Hosking
12. Hudson Young
13. Matty Nicholson
Interchange
14. Owen Pattie
15. Myles Martin
16. Simi Sasagi
17. Noah Martin
Not in 17: Jayden Brailey, Vena Patuki-Case
The Raiders are looking relatively well set heading towards the free agency window opening on November 1, but there is still plenty they will be looking to do.
Chief among them may well be in the halves.
Ricky Stuart was on record earlier this year following confirmation that Jamal Fogarty would be departing, suggesting he wanted to bring in an experienced halfback.
That hasn't happened, but could still be on the radar for 2027.
Elsewhere, there could be real concerns about having the salary cap to have Matthew Timoko sign on for another year - he currently has a mutual option for 2027.
That would leave the Raiders likely looking for another in the backs, as moving gun winger Savelio Tamale into the centres is not likely to be their first choice.
The middle third will also need reinforcements, with Josh Papalii likely to retire and Trey Mooney not yet replaced for 2026, while a backup fullback for Kaeo Weekes could be on the table with Chevy Stewart unlikely to hang around.
Option 4: Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers)
As the Raiders go into the post-Josh Papalii era and prepare for the likely retirement of Joseph Tapine in the coming years, they will look to Corey Horsburgh as their new forward pack leader.
Morgan Smithies, who has proven a wild success since arriving from England, and Ata Mariota (who is still off-contract for now and no guarantee of re-signing) will add plenty, but there is still a feeling they are going to need more.
Liam Henry is currently stuck on the bench at the Penrith Panthers, and there is a real chance that's going to be the same moving forward with Moses Leota and Lindsay Smith seemingly at the front of the queue for Penrith when it comes to starting, and new deals.
Henry has performed exceptionally off the bench this year though and would find a role - likely an increased one - in the nation's capital without a doubt.
If the Raiders are looking to stay near the front and build their own version of long-term success, then signing players of Henry's stature is going to be crucial - hard workers who won't break the bank.
