Jason Smith (if he's signed) is the best move this current management team has made since taking over.
Not only will he give us some serious stability around the rucks - and direction, he will bring a winner's edge to our group of players. I'm not saying they are not winners as blokes but let's face it what have we won since the majority of these players have entered 1st grade? Only Croker, Davico and Wiki have been in a premiership winning squad before and that was way back in 1994.
Smith may be 32 but he's got more skill and smarts than any of our current backrowers/five-eighth molded players.
But the biggest thing he brings to the team?
Appeal - if other players on the market see he is willing to come to Canberra from the cushy $$$$ of the English Super League - then he must have faith the Raiders are gonna be a force. This COULD translate to not only Kite signing but also maybe, just maybe Matty Orford on a 1 year deal.
I do not and will never want Ruben Wiki to leave the Raiders, but again I am not the management. If Smith has indeed signed - then we've at least got something to smile about - you can't win a comp without proven winners and Smith is one.
That being said - he'll probably spend Wiki-like time on the sideline through suspension cause he was a firey so and so in his last NRL stint!
GREAT MOVE SIMON HAWKINS. Congrats.