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from the Daily Tele http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=1726444
Raiders lose plot
By JAMES HOOPER
COMMENT
August 5, 2004
THE cold weather in Canberra must have frozen Raiders officials into thinking they were still living in a glorious era long past.
How else can executives at the club explain a recruitment policy which involves signing ageing veterans Jason Smith and Matt Adamson out of the English Super League?
There is no questioning the pair were once quality performers in the NRL, but to suggest they are a way for the Raiders to improve next season is laughable.
Players who head to the north of England over the age of 30 are generally regarded as past their use-by date in the NRL and looking for an easy retirement fund.
Bringing them back to try and move forward is akin to backing every horse in the Melbourne Cup so you don't miss the winner.
It smacks of desperation over a recruitment and retention policy gone horribly wrong over the past three months.
Smith will be 33 next season. Adamson will be 32.
Instead of investing $250,000 on a player like Smith, who has a history of injuries and is renowned as being an individual rather than a team player, the Raiders should concentrate on spending for the future.
What someone in Canberra management must raise their hand and admit to is the fact the rebuilding process currently in place has failed.
The departure of Joel Monaghan to the Sydney Roosters for less money than he was offered to remain with Canberra illustrates the state of affairs in the national capital.
Why Monaghan was allowed to go on the open market will remain one of the great rugby league mysteries.
The Raiders had all summer to lock him up long-term.
Add to the loss of Monaghan experienced stars Ruben Wiki, Luke Davico and Brad Drew and clearly the Raiders' plan to develop into a premiership force again has unravelled.
It started to go pear-shaped with the decision not to add a single player to the team which finished fifth in 2003.
While every club except Newcastle went shopping, the Raiders decided to sit tight.
They've been watching the rest of the top teams rush past them ever since.
At least the Raiders have started to move in the right direction with the signings of Craig Frawley, David Howell, Michael Howell, Bronx Goodwin, Jermaine Ale and Damon Alley-Tovio.
The re-signings of Todd Carney, Alan Rothery, Nathan Smith, Beau Mundine and Kris Kahler are also a positive step.
Perhaps once the weather warms up in Canberra over the coming months the officials might thaw out in time to come up with a new plan for next season.
Raiders lose plot
By JAMES HOOPER
COMMENT
August 5, 2004
THE cold weather in Canberra must have frozen Raiders officials into thinking they were still living in a glorious era long past.
How else can executives at the club explain a recruitment policy which involves signing ageing veterans Jason Smith and Matt Adamson out of the English Super League?
There is no questioning the pair were once quality performers in the NRL, but to suggest they are a way for the Raiders to improve next season is laughable.
Players who head to the north of England over the age of 30 are generally regarded as past their use-by date in the NRL and looking for an easy retirement fund.
Bringing them back to try and move forward is akin to backing every horse in the Melbourne Cup so you don't miss the winner.
It smacks of desperation over a recruitment and retention policy gone horribly wrong over the past three months.
Smith will be 33 next season. Adamson will be 32.
Instead of investing $250,000 on a player like Smith, who has a history of injuries and is renowned as being an individual rather than a team player, the Raiders should concentrate on spending for the future.
What someone in Canberra management must raise their hand and admit to is the fact the rebuilding process currently in place has failed.
The departure of Joel Monaghan to the Sydney Roosters for less money than he was offered to remain with Canberra illustrates the state of affairs in the national capital.
Why Monaghan was allowed to go on the open market will remain one of the great rugby league mysteries.
The Raiders had all summer to lock him up long-term.
Add to the loss of Monaghan experienced stars Ruben Wiki, Luke Davico and Brad Drew and clearly the Raiders' plan to develop into a premiership force again has unravelled.
It started to go pear-shaped with the decision not to add a single player to the team which finished fifth in 2003.
While every club except Newcastle went shopping, the Raiders decided to sit tight.
They've been watching the rest of the top teams rush past them ever since.
At least the Raiders have started to move in the right direction with the signings of Craig Frawley, David Howell, Michael Howell, Bronx Goodwin, Jermaine Ale and Damon Alley-Tovio.
The re-signings of Todd Carney, Alan Rothery, Nathan Smith, Beau Mundine and Kris Kahler are also a positive step.
Perhaps once the weather warms up in Canberra over the coming months the officials might thaw out in time to come up with a new plan for next season.