The Canberra Raiders have long-term security in a number of key players, but still need additions to challenge for a premiership.
That much became evident in 2023.
The team finished in the top eight and showed off plenty of fighting qualities under Ricky Stuart, who also recently extended his contract, but often lacked the killer punch in attack.
With some player turnover likely in the coming years, and big questions over their halves and juniors, 2025 could be something of a moving year for the Raiders.
In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every club and who they should be targetting when a new crop of players become available tpo negotiate with on November 1 ahead of their contracts expiring at the end of 2024.
Current 2025 squad
Zane Dunford, Emre Guler, Corey Harawira-Naera, Albert Hopoate, Corey Horsburgh, Sebastian Kris, Danny Levi, Simi Sasagi, Xavier Savage, Tom Starling, Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko, Kaeo Weekes, Hudson Young
Current 2025 best 17
1. Chevy Stewart
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Sebastian Kris
4. Matthew Timoko
5. Xavier Savage
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Ethan Strange
8. Joseph Tapine
9. Tom Starling
10. Emre Guler
11. Hudson Young
12. Corey Harawira-Naera
13. Corey Horsburgh
14. Simi Sasagi
15. Danny Levi
16. Zane Dunford
17. No player signed.
Players off-contract at end of 2024
Nick Cotric, Jamal Fogarty, Peter Hola, Ata Mariota, Trey Mooney, Josh Papalii (mutual option) Jordan Rapana, Pasami Saulo, James Schiller, Harley Smith-Shields, Elliott Whitehead, Zac Woolford
EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024
Other clubs
» Brisbane Broncos
Here are five players from outside the club the Raiders should target for 2025.
2. Terrell May
One position the Raiders will undoubtedly need re-enforcements in come 2025 is the front-row.
Josh Papalii, while having a mutual option available, seems more and more likely to retire at the end of 2024 all the time, and their back-up brigade, while strong, doesn't have the depth to cover moving forward.
Emre Guler is yet to prove himself at that level, while there are questions around what the Raiders will do contract-wise with the likes of Peter Hola, Ata Mariota and Trey Mooney.
That said, they are going to need re-enforcements in the middle either way, and Terrell May could be a go-to option for a number of clubs.
He has been excellent for the Roosters since making his debut, impressing with work ethic and drive to succeed in the middle. His power-packed running game would complement what the Raiders already have - Joseph Tapine and Corey Horsburgh - perfectly too. That's not to say he'd be a walk-up starter at the Raiders, but he would certainly add to the side.
