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.

4. Sunia Turuva

Turuva took out the rookie of the year award, and while there is no guarantee he will leave Penrith, he could well be one player who departs simply on the basis of the club not having enough cash in the salary cap.

We all know the salary cap strain of Penrith - winning three premierships will do that.

They have been exceptionally smart to this stage though, letting players walk and paying for those they desperately want to keep - read, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, James Fisher-Harris, Dylan Edwards and Moses Leota among others.

Whether Turuva is viewed as replaceable or not remains to be seen, but the young gun will also have ambitions of playing fullback where he has starred internationally already.

That isn't going to happen while Dylan Edwards is in front of him.

NRL Rd 27 - Panthers v Cowboys
PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Sunia Turuva of the Panthers celebrate after scoring a try during the round 27 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys at BlueBet Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)

It may not happen in Canberra either with Chevy Stewart and Xavier Savage seen as the future, but the duo, like Turuva, can both play on the wing as well if need be.

Turuva has taken to the NRL like a duck to water, the same which can't be said for Savage. He might get there, but in so many ways, Turuva seems like a must target for the Raiders.