In the pre-season it looked as though the Raiders would be serious title contenders. They had the roster, the coach and a big home ground advantage.
Fast forward 11 rounds and this is a club in crisis.
They sit 11th with just four wins and have just lost their halfback, and Ricky Stuart spends more time delivering ridiculous excuses in press conferences than he does anything else.
Not to mention their captain stepping down and recently admitting perhaps he needs to move on.
Simply put, they need to make some signings to re-launch in 2022.
They're not in a re-build as they still have a side capable of doing great damage, but they need a sprinkling of players to re-energize the squad.
Below are five players I believe they SHOULD target. These are just personal opinions and I have no information as to whether they're talking to players past what has made the papers.
That said, I have tried to keep it realistic. For instance, I'm not suggesting they can go out and lure Cameron Smith out of retirement.
Let us know in the comments below who you think the Green Machine need to target.
1. Shaun Johnson
Following the quick exit of Georg Williams, the Raiders need a new playmaker to join Jack Wighton in the halves. I was so tempted to put Anthony Milford here for the romance but Johnson fits the role far better.
Wighton is an elite runner of the ball and has a decent kicking game but he is not the organiser. Shaun Johnson, whether playing six or seven, is capable of running a side.
We haven't seen it so much at the Sharks but I guarantee now that he is paired with Matt Moylan, this will become the SJ show in the Shire.
If he plays well over the next fortnight I can see the Raiders picking up that phone. Johnson is still somewhere toward his best (I still maintain 2020 was his career best year) and is WAY too good to be wasted in Rugby or in the Super League.
He's a marquee signing and compliments the "win now" mentality in the nation's capital. His signature would also sooth the atmosphere amongst Canberra fans.
