Daine Laurie excelled in his debut for the Raiders, showcasing versatility and skill, contributing to a 32-6 win over the Storm under new NRL interchange rules.
The role of the utility is under the spotlight this year thanks to the NRL's new interchange rules, and the Raiders have one of the best in the business after Daine Laurie starred in his first game since coming across from Penrith.
Tyran Wishart and Connor Watson may be the cream of the crop, but Laurie was doing spooky things on Friday the 13th to help Canberra to a 32-6 victory over the Storm in Queanbeyan.
For a guy who usually plies his trade at fullback or on the wing, Laurie looked the goods at halfback with a try assist and a hand in Canberra's other first-half try as he showed coach Ricky Stuart that he needs to be on the bench in round one.
He's got the experience and versatility to end 2026 as one of the more astute signings of the season, with Stuart and the other 16 coaches needing to work out how they handle the bigger benches that have gone from four to six players.