I’m happy to call it right now; the Raiders are the team to beat in 2017.
If not for a single dropped ball in the closing moments of the 2016 Grand Final qualifier, they would have been there on the biggest stage on October 2nd.
If not for an unfortunate injury to their main man Josh Hodgson in the semi-final against the Sharks, the Raiders would have hosted that Grand Final qualifier.
To sum it up, the Raiders were awfully close to running out on Grand Final day, and their efforts across the season warranted nothing less.
They were the competition’s highest point scoring side and arguably the competition’s most entertaining side.
In 2017, they are even better positioned to chase their first title since 1994.
Across the park this Raiders side possesses attacking weapons that few other sides can match. That’s without even making mention of their massively improved defence.
It may sound as though I am a life-long Raiders fan. The truth is, I’m not, but like many others I certainly do have a soft spot for the Green Machine when they produce the kind of attacking footy they did in 2016.
I’d never been the biggest Ricky Stuart fan, but after the efforts of his side last season, even I have to stand and deliver a well-deserved (Viking) clap.
Josh Hodgson has transformed from that English guy who ran through the door, into arguably the best number nine in the business not named Cameron.
I’ve ran the numbers and I’m still not entirely sure how he did not capture the Dally M medal last season. As silly as it sounds, I would have fully supported a three-way tie at the top, along with Cronk and Taumalolo.
The Raiders were in complete control of their home semi-final against the Sharks when Hodgson went down. The injury completely changed the momentum of the game.
The Sharks may very well have won that game regardless, but the difference in the Raiders attack was certainly noticible when they number nine was carried off the park.
Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer are the best halves pairing the Raiders have had in many seasons. Considering the talent that has worn the Green numbers six and seven, that is quite a statement.
Austin is the ultimate running number six. He should have Origin jerseys to his name, but for some reason the NSW selectors seem to forget he exists come selection time.
Sezer’s kicking game, and creativity added a new dimension to the Raiders attack that they did not have prior to his arrival at the club.
Jack Wighton continues to improve out of sight at the back, and is now a genuine fullback, rather than a centre turn fullback experiment.
He is becoming more and more involved in general play, and with another full off-season under his belt, I’m excited to see what he can produce in 2017.
Shannon Boyd announced himself as one of the game’s best big men, earning a Kangroos call up due to his devastating performances in Green.
Josh Papalii had another brilliant season and looks set to become an Origin mainstay for as long as he wants to pull on the jersey.
Elliott Whitehead was one of the signings of the season, providing a new avenue of attack out wide. He also excelled when called upon to fill a playmaking position due to injuries to the first choice halves.
Jordan Rapana became one of the NRL’s top wingers in 2016. His name will now be one of the first called when future Kiwi international sides are called.
His combination with BJ Leilua became a thing of beauty, and provided a complete reel of highlights, including the pass of the season in round 26.
Speaking of Leilua, his centre combination with the eternally underrated Jarrod Croker became the best in the business.
They scored tries, set up their wingers, busted tackles, broke the line, and generally made opposition defenders look as though they had no idea.
At the helm is the aforementioned Ricky Stuart. For a coach who guided the Roosters to premiership success, and a host of grand finals, and even took the Sharks within a game of a Grand final despite a roster that was pretty good at best, Stuart cops a lot of grief.
For every bad decision he made during his time at the Sharks and the Eels, and there were a few, he made two good decisions in 2016.
His recruitment decisions have paid off tremendously. Whitehead, Hodgson and Soliola were all brought across from the Super League with low expectations.
He has turned BJ Leilua, who whilst talented did not have the temperament to play professional football, into one of the game’s premier centres.
In 2017 the Raiders will have to cope with something they haven’t experienced in many years; expectation.
Can they do it? Can they end the title drought in the capital?
There is absolutely no reason why they can’t, and I’m sure looking forward to seeing them try.
