Squad Breakdown: Canberra Raiders 2023 Supercoach analysis

1. Xavier Savage 2.&nbsp;Nick Cotric 3.&nbsp;Seb Kris 4.&nbsp;Matt Timoko 5.&nbsp;Jordan Rapana 6.&nbsp;Jack Wighton 7.&nbsp;Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Danny Levi 10.&nbsp;Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12.&nbsp;Elliott Whitehead 13.&nbsp;Corey Horsburgh



14. Tom Starling 15. Corey Harawira-Naera 16. Emre Guler 17. Trey Mooney



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Draw: First 10 rounds</h2>



Cowboys (A), Dolphins (A), Sharks (H), Knights (A), Panthers (H), Broncos (A), Dragons (H), bye, Dolphins (regional), Bulldogs (A).



First five round strength of schedule rating (1 toughest, 10 easiest)



4/10



2023 gains



Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield).



2023 losses



Josh Hodgson (Eels), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs).



Squad changes, via NRL.com



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team news</h2>



New recruit Danny Levi is the surprise front-runner to start at hooker for the Green Machine in 2023.



If confirmed, this would see Zac Woolford drop out of the 17, with Tom Starling remaining on the bench.



The backline picks itself, with Harley Smith-Shields to make his way back from a long-term injury via NSW Cup.



Skipper Jarrod Croker will also be fighting to win back his spot in the backline following a tough 2022 season riddled by injuries.



The most contentious position in the team is the lock role vacated by Adam Elliott.



A number of players are vying for the role, headed by Emre Guler and Corey Horsburgh, with Corey Harawira-Naera the smokey for the spot.



NSW U19s star Trey Mooney is tipped for a permanent role off the bench this season, but faces stiff competition from Ata Mariota who has had a bumper pre-season after winning the club’s reserve grade player of the year award.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GUNS</h2>



Joe Tapine ($699,500)



Tapine will be the main point of interest following a mammoth back end to the 2022 season.



He started the season solid last year with an average of 57.3 points in 48.1 minutes across the first 10 rounds.



From there he picked up his game time, and his output went through the roof.



In the next nine games, he averaged 82.8 points, with just one try in that period. Surprisingly he scored just two tries last season.



He then sustained a rib injury which impacted his minutes in the final stages of the season.



With his price being based on a 66 point average, I certainly think he may be starting at value.



My concern will be how he starts the season off the back of a big World Cup campaign.



While I tend to avoid paying up big for front-rowers early in the season, I also target the ones with higher ceilings, and Taps definitely has 100+ scores in him.



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Hudson Young ($704,000)



Huddo had a career year in 2022, evolving into one of the best back-rowers in the game.



My concern is that he’s probably starting over-priced off the back of 13 tries in 22 games.



His base of 41 for an 80-minute back-rower isn’t great, however he does make up for that with attacking flair.



The tough draw to start the season is also off-putting, with three games against last year’s top four teams in the opening five rounds.



Definitely a POD with upside for anyone game, but I’ll avoid and consider hopefully at a discount down the track.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MID-RANGERS</h2>



Jack Wighton ($551,000)



People will get sucked into Jacko Wighton to start the season again, but the reality is that he’s just not a Supercoach relevant player.



He has back-to-back averages of 52 and 47, and he hasn’t averaged over 58 in the past five years.



That 58 points came in the season he won the Dally M Medal.



Not for me.



Corey Horsburgh ($505,100)



I can’t see myself starting with Big Red, but I’ll be monitoring him extremely closely in the early stages of the season.



He’s always been a terrific Supercoach prospect with the right minutes, but the Raiders stacked forward pack has always limited his opportunity.



Look back to 2020 where he averaged 56 points in 51 minutes per game.



He has a big motor, playing through the middle and most importantly he has an excellent offloading game.



If he starts at lock and get 50+ minutes he could be a very popular pick up come round 3 prior to initial price changes, but it looks the safe play to watch early on.



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Emre Guler ($342,700)



Similar to the above with Horsburgh, Guler could have relevance if he wins the starting lock role.



His workrate isn’t as high as Horsburgh, nor does he offload as often, but he is $160k cheaper.



He’s priced on a 33 point average in 36 minutes last season.



In the two seasons prior in better game time he averaged 47 points in 43 minutes, and 48 points in 42 minutes.



He could be a sneaky early season mid-range cash cow, but he’s also one I’ll probably hold off on until Round 3 regardless of whether he starts in the season opener or not.



Corey Harawira-Naera is a huge play if he slides into the role, but at this stage it’s unlikely.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHEAPIES</h2>



Danny Levi ($329,700)



Returning from the Super League in the UK, Levi has been priced on around a 32 point average.



If he starts at hooker, there’s obviously potential, however the fact Tom Starling will be on the bench will mean Levi likely plays 55 minutes max.



For Manly in 2021, he averaged 31 points in 40 minutes, the two seasons prior he averaged 41 points in 59 minutes.



Not for me unless playing 65+ minutes minimum which appears unlikely.



Trey Mooney ($234,800) and Ata Mariota ($234,800)



Two players at near bottom dollar to be considered, pending who gets a bench role.



Both have some attacking ability which is crucial as their minutes will be limited.



With the stacked Raiders pack, I suspect there won’t be enough minutes to warrant investing.



They’ll likely have three big boys on the bench, with Starling as the 14.



If it plays out this way as expected, either of Mooney or Mariota may be traps, however they’d both have potential to be slow-burn cash cows. But just how much money would they make?



Wait and watch how the pre-season unfolds, along with the round 1 team.

Squad Breakdown: Canberra Raiders 2023 Supercoach analysis

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