One of the ongoing surprises to start the 2026 NRL season has been the overlooking of Canberra Raiders' centre Matthew Timoko by head coach Ricky Stuart.

While a foot injury hampered his preparation for the new campaign, the centre is now well and truly on the outside looking in thanks to the start to the season for his replacement, Simi Sasagi.

The utility, who at one point in time was seen as one of the best young halves in the game when he was progressing through the junior system at the Newcastle Knights, has become one of the more important players in the nation's capital for his consistency and his versatility.

Typically, he has been used in the second-row, but has had no problems slotting in at centre, and has now taken the opportunity presented to start the 2026 campaign with both hands.

Maybe then it was no surprise during the week that news emerged the Raiders have more or less told Timoko he is free to explore his options elsewhere.

It wasn't really up to the club given the centre is off-contract at the end of the season (although has a mutual option for 2027), but it now appears something of a guarantee that the 26-year-old will head for the Canberra departure lounge.

Timoko, who has played 112 games for the Raiders since his 2020 debut, has been a constant performer over the years for Stuart's side, and has nine Tests for New Zealand to his name.

That, frankly, makes him the type of player who will pick a up a contract elsewhere, continuing an NRL career where he has been underrated at the best of times.

Here are the most likely landing spots for the 26-year-old.

6. Newcastle Knights

The Knights will lose Dane Gagai at the end of the 2026 season unless they make the unlikely call to offer him a new deal.

As it stands, Gagai has indicated he may want to play on, but whether that move is actually in the best interests of the Hunter-based club or not remains to be seen.

What we could have is a centre spot open up in the Hunter, and Timoko claim it.

While Gagai is experienced, Timoko is the sort of player the Knights would love to have. They need attacking spark on the outside without breaking the bank, and Timoko ticks both of those boxes.

His combinations with Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown would be fantastic, and the trio could all wind up representing New Zealand on the international stage.

3 COMMENTS

    • That’s a valid comment. Coach Fitzgibbon hates giving any one in the squad a chance – so Michael Gabrael hasn’t been given an opportunity to show what he can do.

      If R & V go then the coach will have to buy someone new or take a real punt on an untested player. Either way, he’ll _loathe_ having to do it !