Tip sheet: 10 talking points for the Raiders in 2023
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The Raiders had no right to make the finals with their shocking injury toll throughout the 2022 season.
However, in true Raiders spirit, the team defied the odds to get back into the finals fold and rattled one of their closest rivals in doing so.
NRL.com reflects on the 2022 season for the Raiders and looks at some of the major talking points for next year.
Halves to start
Disaster struck for the Raiders in 2022 when Jamal Fogarty went down with a knee injury before the season kicked off, and for that reason alone you expect the Green Machine to be in a far better situation when Round 1 kicks off next year.
When he got back on the field, Fogarty and Jack Wighton's combination took a little time, but by the end of the season looked very promising for the future.
Wighton was still at his roaming best while Fogarty racked up 10 try assists in 15 games, a better strike rate than his 13 from 21 games at the Titans in his final season.
Stuart full of praise for Fogarty
Replacing Hodgo
Josh Hodgson's injury in his final season at the Raiders - albeit heartbreaking - has actually given the squad a six-month leg up on performing without the English star.
While his experience will be sorely missed, the Raiders have reacted accordingly with Tom Starling continuing his underrated form in the NRL while Zac Woolford managed eight try assists during his maiden season.
The Raiders have been linked to former Knights and Sea Eagles hooker Danny Levi in recent weeks, who on his day can cause havoc around the ruck.
Croker's swansong
Jarrod Croker's return from a shoulder injury that saw him miss most of the 2022 season is a boost for the Raiders but where or how many games he plays next year will be one to watch.
Croker is eight games shy of breaking the 300-game milestone but if earlier this year is anything to go by - he was left out of the team by Ricky Stuart - it might not be so simple for the Raiders veteran.
Nevertheless, watching Croker finally reach the milestone will be a day to remember for all Raiders fans.
Tapine locked in
Canberra's best player for 2022 extended his contract just days after the Raiders were knocked out of the competition and what a re-signing it will be.
Tapine took his game to another level this year and is now the leader of Canberra's pack alongside veteran Josh Papalii.
His retention is a major bonus and one that gives the club a tick of approval moving into the future after he attracted interest from rival clubs.
A savage start
Ricky Stuart's call to not throw Xavier Savage into first grade consistently in 2022 given the hype that was placed on him early has paid off in the long term.
Savage eventually became the club's starting No.1 and is no doubt a player set to star in the NRL for years to come, but Stuart wanted to see some consistency from him first.
The 20-year-old still showed some signs in his 19 appearances of inexperience but has more upside to his game and will be better in his third season.
He'll need to go to another level with back-up fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad off to the Warriors.
Sticky and Madge show
Still on Ricky Stuart and his re-signing in July gives the Raiders players and club some clarity on who will be in charge for at least the next three seasons.
Stuart will be guided by former Raiders teammate Michael Maguire in 2023 after the Kiwis coach agreed to join the club as a coaching consultant.
Stuart and Maguire are cut from the same cloth when it comes to work ethic and commitment in the game and the Raiders will benefit from his arrival.
Young reflects on superb season
Young's growing maturity
Hudson Young sat behind Jeremiah Nanai in scoring four tries as a last try-scorer in a match, which is fitting as both back-rowers produced seasons which put them on the map.
Young would've gone close to representing the Kangaroos at the World Cup after a stellar year on the edge for the Raiders.
The 24-year-old showed signs of maturity throughout 2022, playing in 24 out of a possible 26 games for the Green Machine, and scoring 14 tries overall.
The left edge spot is Young's to own long-term and you get the feeling after the year that was, that he is willing to take it.
Local juniors coming through
Injuries have plenty of downside but the emergence of Matt Timoko, Seb Kris and James Schiller in 2022 has also given the Raiders a glimpse into the future and plenty of depth heading into the new year.
For Kris in particular, who capped off his season with selection for New Zealand, it's a massive turnaround after he stepped away from the game in 2020 to focus on his personal wellbeing.
Timoko looks a very promising prospect on the right edge with his combination with Nick Cotric dangerous throughout the season.
Schiller had just six appearances in first grade but came up with one of the tries of the year against Melbourne in Round 18 and will get better next season.
Schiller spectacular acrobatic sideline play
Knight in shining armour
The Raiders haven't gone big to replace the likes of Josh Hodgson and Adam Elliott but their strike rate of turning former Knights into stars is second to none.
Joseph Tapine, Tom Starling and Hudson Young all came through the Knights system and are now household names.
You can now add Pasami Saulo to the list, who played just 27 games in five seasons at the Knights after big raps through his junior career.
The Raiders recruit is the latest to join the club and at 24 has plenty of potential to come back and bite the Knights in the future.
Ladies in lime green
The club's entry into the NRLW in 2023 is a major boost for the nation's capital and you get the feeling that Ricky Stuart and his playing group will really embrace the women's side when they recruit for their first campaign.
It will be a proud occasion for the club with inaugural NRLW coach Darrin Borthwick having a strong association with the Raiders previously.
