The Canberra Raiders are set to hand local junior Harley Smith-Shields an extension before a ball is kicked this season.
It's an extremely different season-eve for Smith-Shields who tore his ACL a year ago today, ruling him out for the entire 2022 season shortly after emerging as a Round 1 bolter, with Semi Valemei and James Schiller both eventually starting the game.
Off contract at the end of this season, you could forgive Harley for stressing over a contract year coming off a long-term injury, however it appears the club are set to reward the 23 year-old's resilience before the season opener.