Canberra Raiders sign ‘wonderkid’ as Josh Hodgson replacement

The Canberra Raiders have apparently made a former schoolboy star their future hooker.

The Mole at the World Wide of Sports has reported that ex-New Zealand under-16s number nine Stanley Iongi has made the move to Canberra.

Of course, Iongi will be first included in the Raiders’ SG Ball side rather than being chucked in at the deep end, but it’s obvious that Canberra head coach Ricky Stuart is preparing for life after Josh Hodgson, who is set to leave the capital at the end of 2022.

Iongi was a product of the New Zealand Warriors system before signing with the Storm’s feeder club Brisbane Tigers in late 2021.

The Tigers were, however, willing to grant the 19-year-old a release.

“They were great about it,” Iongi’s manager Dixon McIver told Wide World of Sports.

“They wanted Stanley in their club but they recognised he had a much better opportunity at Canberra and let him go – I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

“He is a real goer in the Brandon Smith mould – Canberra have got themselves a great kid.”

Iongi has also played in the under-20s NZRL competition during 2021 where he was key in Auckland Blue’s run to the Grand Final.