The Canberra Raiders have long-term security in a number of key players, but still need additions to challenge for a premiership.

That much became evident in 2023.

The team finished in the top eight and showed off plenty of fighting qualities under Ricky Stuart, who also recently extended his contract, but often lacked the killer punch in attack.

With some player turnover likely in the coming years, and big questions over their halves and juniors, 2025 could be something of a moving year for the Raiders.

In this series, Zero Tackle are running the rule over every club and who they should be targetting when a new crop of players become available tpo negotiate with on November 1 ahead of their contracts expiring at the end of 2024.

Current 2025 squad

Zane Dunford, Emre Guler, Corey Harawira-Naera, Albert Hopoate, Corey Horsburgh, Sebastian Kris, Danny Levi, Simi Sasagi, Xavier Savage, Tom Starling, Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko, Kaeo Weekes, Hudson Young

Current 2025 best 17

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Albert Hopoate
3. Sebastian Kris
4. Matthew Timoko
5. Xavier Savage
6. Kaeo Weekes
7. Ethan Strange
8. Joseph Tapine
9. Tom Starling
10. Emre Guler
11. Hudson Young
12. Corey Harawira-Naera
13. Corey Horsburgh
14. Simi Sasagi
15. Danny Levi
16. Zane Dunford
17. No player signed.

Players off-contract at end of 2024

Nick Cotric, Jamal Fogarty, Peter Hola, Ata Mariota, Trey Mooney, Josh Papalii (mutual option) Jordan Rapana, Pasami Saulo, James Schiller, Harley Smith-Shields, Elliott Whitehead, Zac Woolford

EVERY PLAYER OFF-CONTRACT AT THE END OF 2024

Other clubs
ยป Brisbane Broncos

Here are five players from outside the club the Raiders should target for 2025.

3. Jacob Saifiti

Staying on front rowers, Jacob Saifiti is one of the better options coming off-contract with plenty still to offer at the end of 2024.

Bringing with him to any club the experience of a State of Origin jumper, there are major questions about the Newcastle Knights' salary cap, and he seems to be one of the likely options on the open market to make a move at the end of 2024.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 28: Jacob Saifiti of the Knights looks on during the round 24 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium, on August 28, 2022, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Raiders, as mentioned, are going to be a club in need of more players to power the engine room alongside Tapine and Horsburgh, and while Saifiti won't want to leave brother Daniel, it may be best for his career to generate a fresh start.

He proved exactly what he is capable of at the back-end of 2023, putting up big numbers as the Knights made their surprising march into the finals, and he would be a walk-up starter in the nation's capital come 2025.