The Canberra Raiders have lost players in key positions heading into the 2024 season.
Their biggest departure was certainly the loss of star player Jack Wighton who has completed a huge move to South Sydney Rabbitohs agreeing to a bumper deal.
Wighton had left the halfback role he was playing in by the end of last year to feature in the centres but even the man who stepped into the six shirt has left the club as well in the shape of Matt Frawley who has joined the Leeds Rhinos for 2024 onwards.
Thus, the club are considering their options in the halves and have taken a look at their options in Super League having succeeded with George Williams from Warrington Wolves.
Lewis Dodd has been linked with a move to Australia and he would certainly be an option for the Raiders and a number of NRL clubs.
Fortunately for the Raiders they have been able announce a significant re-signing with halfback Jamal Fogarty signing on with the club for a further two seasons until the end of 2026.
The new two-year deal is an extension on his current deal, with the final year of the new deal an option 2026.
Fogarty has been one of the Raiders’ most consistent players since joining the club in 2022, playing 39 matches for the club since making his Raiders debut mid-way through his first season.
He said he’s looking forward to guiding some of the club’s younger players into the future with the help from the Raiders’ current experienced players.
“This year is a lot different losing a couple of key players in Jacko (Wighton) and Toots (Croker), but we’ve still got the majority of the senior boys here and got a lot of youth coming through which I’m really excited about,” Fogarty said.
“We’ve got a good balance of experience and youth so hopefully a couple of those boys can step up this year and we can get a good start to the season and go better than we did last season. It’s exciting times.”
Fogarty said he and his young family have made a home here in Canberra and he wants to continue to build on the career and life he has established at the Raiders.
“I never wanted to leave the Raiders and I want to play here as long as I can,” he said. “Obviously it’s good job security, but also just good to know it’s all settled, and we don’t have to relocate the family to somewhere else.
“The girls can keep going to school here and I think that’s probably the most important part keeping them settled and keep doing what they’re doing because if they’re happy I’m happy and then hopefully that reflects on me playing good footy.”
