Canberra Raiders 2026

[gerg]

No Forgarty, no Raiders in 2026 I'm afraid

Raiders will definitely miss how 'clutch' Fogarty is in those key moments and games.

 

[Chimp]

Raiders will definitely miss how 'clutch' Fogarty is in those key moments and games.

Whilst I agree with this sentiment (I think he’s a bit ‘plod’), the thing they will really miss is his long kicking game - unless Sanders also has dynamite in his boot, they literally have no other kicker.
Fogarty kicked almost 90% of Canberras Kick meters last year - and his kick placement is very good, the best part of his game,
If his replacement can find those same meters, can hit the grass and find the same placement, consistently, that will have a big impact.

 

[Fangs]

Very rare to replace a halfback and replicate the success of the year prior.

Rate Sanders but Fogarty adheres to the KISS principle. Outrageously boring footballer but effective. Won't be surprised if Manly make the 8 with a fit Fogarty.

The Raiders? Unsure about 2026.

 

[Vee]

The Raiders? Unsure about 2026.

Where'd you pick them to finish this year?

 

[Fangs]

Where'd you pick them to finish this year?

Outside the 8.

Year previous I had them in the 8. But Fogarty got injured early in the year and it hurt their season.

In 2025 I couldn't see their path back into the 8. They shocked everyone including their biggest fans. It was a great NRL story that ended too soon.

Make no mistake. If I wasn't a Penrith fan (The greatest club in the world) then I'd be a Raiders fan. I'm a big fan of what they are doing down there. Especially after Peter Mulholland got involved years ago. Love the juniors. The passion. Queanbeyan Leagues. All of it.

But losing a 7 is massive. Ask Panthers fans about 2008 post-Gower. Absolute disaster and highly embarrassing football at times. I rate Sanders but its not as simple as just plonking him in there.

 

[gerg]

Whilst I agree with this sentiment (I think he’s a bit ‘plod’), the thing they will really miss is his long kicking game - unless Sanders also has dynamite in his boot, they literally have no other kicker.
Fogarty kicked almost 90% of Canberras Kick meters last year - and his kick placement is very good, the best part of his game,
If his replacement can find those same meters, can hit the grass and find the same placement, consistently, that will have a big impact.

I was being sarcastic. He's kicking can be superb but he has a regular stinker in him and lacks that killer instinct to go for the jugular and take him to the next level of halves in the comp. His long kick is good but too often too deep and the chasers can't get near it to put pressure on. Doesn't use his spiral often enough. I don't think his short kicking game is as dangerous as quite a few other players. Most of the tries from kicks that he gets come from errors but when you play the better sides those errors dry up.

No running game to speak of. So opponents know he isn't going to 'burn em' or ball play around them. You give him the ball on the tryline with a three on two and it's not a guaranteed try like it would be with Walker, DCE, Dearden, Hughes etc. This year he had flashes of ball playing but not often enough.

Been at the club 4 years and has played his best football in season 4. He can be a bit passive and slow in defence with it noticeably affecting Timoko and Savage ... at least I hope he was the issue and not Timoko?

I think the club didn't really want him with how that whole contract fiasco played out. Club had an option in its favour to keep him for 12 months and baulked, then changed their mind after Manly had a sniff, but (Raiders) didn't budge on not wanting a 2 year deal. We all hate manly so I hope he goes well but not too well. I'm sure Siebold will get the best out of him

With all those negatives above he is a good club man and extremely well spoken and polite and I wouldn't have been against him staying. Raiders have other strike around him and he was an important player for the team. We looked pretty ordinary without him 2024.

 

[Chimp]

I was being sarcastic. He's kicking can be superb but he has a regular stinker in him and lacks that killer instinct to go for the jugular and take him to the next level of halves in the comp. His long kick is good but too often too deep and the chasers can't get near it to put pressure on. Doesn't use his spiral often enough. I don't think his short kicking game is as dangerous as quite a few other players. Most of the tries from kicks that he gets come from errors but when you play the better sides those errors dry up.

No running game to speak of. So opponents know he isn't going to 'burn em' or ball play around them. You give him the ball on the tryline with a three on two and it's not a guaranteed try like it would be with Walker, DCE, Dearden, Hughes etc. This year he had flashes of ball playing but not often enough.

Been at the club 4 years and has played his best football in season 4. He can be a bit passive and slow in defence with it noticeably affecting Timoko and Savage ... at least I hope he was the issue and not Timoko?

I think the club didn't really want him with how that whole contract fiasco played out. Club had an option in its favour to keep him for 12 months and baulked, then changed their mind after Manly had a sniff, but (Raiders) didn't budge on not wanting a 2 year deal. We all hate manly so I hope he goes well but not too well. I'm sure Siebold will get the best out of him

With all those negatives above he is a good club man and extremely well spoken and polite and I wouldn't have been against him staying. Raiders have other strike around him and he was an important player for the team. We looked pretty ordinary without him 2024.

Think your assessment is spot on.

I suspect Manly might struggle this year - with him and Brooks, there’s just no dynamism or creativity in their play. They’re both very ‘meh’ - I don’t see them creating time and space for the outside backs or Tommy.

Another year for Manly where I would suggest unless Turbo goes nuclear and brains it (which I don’t actually think he’s got in his body anymore), then they might be in for a tough tough year - only their very soft draw might save them (and appreciate that’s rich coming from a Sharks fan).

 

[Patorick]

Under the radar already...

 

[blue bags]

Expecting big things in 2026

Sharks as well

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Next year's Grand Final will be the long awaited Brisbane vs. Canberra.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Ethan Sanders or Coby Black. That is the question.

 

[mozza91]

Ethan Sanders or Coby Black. That is the question.

The 2026 version of Marc Herbert vs Josh McCrone

 

[Bobby DIGital]

The 2026 version of Marc Herbert vs Josh McCrone

Should've signed Jackson Hastings instead?

 

[James Rick]

They'll slide this year Fogarty is a huge loss and the way they exited the finals will leave mental scars.

 

[Cutoutpass]

UP THE MILK

 

[Fangs]

Back on the front page.

You can't have two Ethans in the halves. I'm sorry but its never been done before and now we are seeing why.

At a bare minimum make one of them change their last name so their initials aren't the same. ES? Ricky has created this mess and deserves all the criticism.

 

[mongoose]

Back on the front page.

You can't have two Ethans in the halves. I'm sorry but its never been done before and now we are seeing why.

At a bare minimum make one of them change their last name so their initials aren't the same. ES? Ricky has created this mess and deserves all the criticism.

Ricky Stuart Sanders

 

[BadnMean]

Combined though, their stats almost equal an effective NRL half.

I honestly think Ethan is the future of the club though. As in, all Ethans. Noah Martin will never reach his full Ethantial until he Ethans up too.

Think of how much easier it would be for our back 3 to actually catch a bomb for once if all the ever had to call was "Ethans!"- the reduction of mental load would be incredible.