Canberra Raiders News

The Penrith Panthers have successfully recruited young talents, reversing previous player loss challenges.

LeagueNews.co

The Penrith Panthers have long faced challenges from rival NRL clubs taking players from their junior ranks. This situation prompted Ivan Cleary to suggest that the NRL should compensate the Panthers for cultivating significant young talent that ultimately ends up with other teams.

Recently, however, the four-time premiers have been turning the tide, successfully acquiring several promising youngsters from competing clubs. Following recent signings like Keahn Skipps from the Raiders and Haami Loza from the Knights, the Panthers have also secured a rising star from the Wests Tigers' academy.

This week, teenager Thomas Goodfield confirmed his move to the Panthers, marking a significant recruitment win for the reigning champions. Goodfield has been competing for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matthews Cup (Under-17s) and is set to join the Panthers for next year's Under-19s SG Ball Cup.

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Jed Stuart stresses a "team-first" approach as competition for finals selection intensifies.

LeagueNews.co

Jed Stuart emphasized the importance of a "team-first" mentality at the Raiders while discussing the challenging decision his father and coach, Ricky Stuart, faces regarding his selection for the upcoming finals. The young winger has stepped up impressively in place of injured star Savelio Tamale, who has been out since round 14 due to a knee injury.

Tamale was a contender for 'rookie of the year' before his dislocated kneecap suffered during a significant win against the Rabbitohs in June. He managed to score six tries in 14 appearances for the Raiders, standing out in tackle busts early in the season, following a brief stint in the NRL with the Dragons in 2024.

Expected to return for the Raiders in their round 26 match against the Wests Tigers, Tamale's comeback is eagerly anticipated as a significant boost for the team before the finals. However, this return creates a pressing challenge for the coach, with Jed likely to be the player benched.

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The Canberra Raiders extended Simi Sasagi's contract to 2028, reflecting his recent strong performance.

Zero Tackle

The Canberra Raiders have confirmed a contract extension for utility Simi Sasagi.

A second-rower who can play at lock, centre or in the halves, the former Knight has begun to live up to his potential in recent times, with 2025 proving to be a breakout campaign for the 24-year-old.

Sasagi's new contract has added two further years to his time at the club, extending him out to the end of 2028. It means he won't head to free agency on November 1 at the same time as all other off-contract players.

Sasagi said he wanted to continue his improvement at the Raiders over the coming seasons.

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