Canberra Raiders 2009 season preview
February 20th 2009 07:46
The lowdown
Along with the Warriors, the Canberra Raiders were the success story in season 2008, finishing the regular season in sixth position.
It was an outstanding year for a Raiders team that had to deal with their fair share of injuries, suspensions and off field misdemeanours.
To do what they did last season with such a limited player roster was a joy to watch. Canberra played as if they had nothing to lose, which in turn made their attack the second best in the NRL last season.
It seems when one underestimates the Raiders, they are eager to bite back hard. 2009 will be no different.
2009 Prospects
The Raiders offensive at times was unstoppable in 2008. Teams such as the Panthers, Knights, Roosters, Bulldogs and Titans were make to look very ordinary against a Canberra side that made finding the tryline a neat habit.
Indeed the Raiders scored 116 tries last season to rank them as the second best attacking unit in the competition.
To further emphasise their attacking dominance, the Raiders scored more tries from their half of the field than any other team last season with 26 four pointers.
Canberra were also lethal near the try-line, registering the most tries inside the opposition 10 metre line than any other side last year.
Players such as Joel Monaghan, Terry Campese, Colin Best and Alan Tongue lifted when it really counted, and it provided the fuel for the Raiders to blitz their opposition late on in the season.
Best in particular had a tremendous 2008 season which saw him become one of the most lethal centres in the NRL.
But as is the case with Canberra, Best has now headed to South Sydney, which sees the Raiders once again bid farewell to an awesome talent.
Others that have left the nations capital include William Zillman, Neville Costigan, Lincoln Withers, Michael Weyman and coach Neil Henry.
The Raiders however have brought well for season 2009 with Roosters forward David Shillington and Tigers second rower Bronson Harrison making their way to Canberra.
These two acquisitions will add some much needed go forward grunt for Canberra this coming season.
But one feels Canberra can ill afford to see themselves plagued with an injury crisis if they are to make 2009 a year to remember.
Prediction
The Raiders have every right to believe that last season’s heroics can be repeated. They made the finals when no one predicted they would and that should install tremendous belief down Canberra way.
Players such as Monaghan, Shillington, Harrison, Tongue and Campese will form the foundation of what the Raiders will hope to achieve in season 2009.
If those key figures play well, the Raiders should eye a firm position in the top eight.
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