Green shoots—why Ricky’s Raiders are on the verge of a scary NRL dynasty

Sure, they crashed out of the 2025 NRL finals series with back-to-back home losses at GIO Stadium—after finishing minor premiers for the first time in 35 years.

But while Canberra’s rapid finals fade out was cause for short-term pain for Green Machine fans, the long-term future looks brighter than just about any other NRL club.

Thanks to solid pathways and astute recruitment manoeuvres, Ricky Stuart’s talent pipeline looks in the rudest of good health heading into 2026 and there’s every chance that by the end of the season the Raiders could be fielding one of the youngest first-grade spines ever seen in the NRL era.

Spearheaded by breakout five-eighth and 2025 Kangaroo squad member Ethan Strange, 21, the ‘veteran’ in the Raiders playmaking quartet could well be dynamic fullback Kaeo Weekes at the ripe old age of just 23.

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Ethan Sanders will be 22 when the new season begins, off-season Broncos halfback signing Coby Black will be 20, while fast-emerging hooker Owen Pattie will also be just 22 and seems destined to assume the first-choice dummy half duties from Tom Starling in the not-too-distant-future, with the possibility of Queensland State of Origin honours also looming on the horizon.

Throw in the likes of Xavier Savage (23), Savelio Tamale (21), Ata Mariota (24) and Simi Sasagi (24), and the Raiders boasts an exciting array of first-grade proven talent—all still under the age of 25.

Couple this with the priceless experience of a 2025 NRL finals campaign and it all bodes extremely well for 2026, and even better for 2027 and beyond. 

Not bad for a team that was widely tipped for the wooden spoon just 12 months ago.

Strap yourselves in Raiders fans and get those Viking claps ready, because the next few years could be a whole lot of fun.

Canberra begins its 2026 NRL campaign against Manly at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, 7 March.

Canberra Raiders, key player ages at start of 2026 NRL season