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.

3. Perth Bears

It's hardly a surprise that the Bears have been linked to just about every player off-contract and available at the end mof the 2026 campaign as they prepare for NRL entry in 2027.

Timoko is a player who likely wouldn't have been on the radar until the last month - the chance of him leaving Canberra simply didn't seem to exist.

But now that it looks more than likely, the Bears will be one of the clubs no doubt making contact to see if something can't be worked out.

At the time of publishing, Nick Meaney, Sean Russell and Harry Newman are the likely options to play in the centres, but they could certainly do with more than they currently have. All of those players can play in other positions in the back five, and as it stands, the Bears depth isn't good enough.

A signing coup like Timoko has the potential to change the way they play the game at both ends of the park.

Centre is among the most important players in the game, and Timoko is a gun. It's as simple as that.

RELATED: Perth Bears signing tracker

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 !