# 2023 Canberra Raiders season

The 2023 Canberra Raiders season is the 42nd in the club's history. They will compete in the National Rugby League's 2023 Telstra Premiership. The Co-captain Jarrod Croker retains his club role for the 10th consecutive season and other Co-captain Elliot Whitehead retains his co-captaincy for his 5th consecutive season. While Head Coach Ricky Stuart maintains his club position for the 10th consecutive season.

## Player movement

These movements happened across the previous season, off-season and pre-season.

### Gains

| Player/Coach | Previous Club | Length |
| Pasami Saulo | Newcastle Knights | 2024 |
| Danny Levi | Huddersfield Giants | 2024 |

### Losses

| Player/Coach | New Club |
| Josh Hodgson | Parramatta Eels |
| Adam Elliott | Newcastle Knights |
| Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad | New Zealand Warriors |
| Ryan Sutton | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |

## Pre-Season Challenge

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| Sunday, 12 February | Trial 1 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Ack Weyman Oval | 18 – 34 | Brad Schneider 23' Elijah Anderson 48' James Schiller 55' Mitchell Spencer 65' | Jarrod Croker (1/4) | 4,535 |
| Sunday, 19 February | Trial 2 | Wests Tigers | Belmore Sports Ground | 36 – 4 | Danny Levi 20' | Jamal Fogarty (0/1) | 7,800 |

## Regular season

Source:

### Ladder

2023 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 312 | +333 | 42 |
| 2 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 639 | 425 | +214 | 42 |
| 3 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 627 | 459 | +168 | 38 |
| 4 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 572 | 448 | +124 | 38 |
| 5 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 451 | +175 | 35 |
| 6 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 619 | 497 | +122 | 34 |
| 7 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 472 | 496 | −24 | 32 |
| 8 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 486 | 623 | −137 | 32 |
| 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 564 | 505 | +59 | 30 |
| 10 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 587 | 574 | +13 | 30 |
| 11 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 546 | 542 | +4 | 30 |
| 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 545 | 539 | +6 | 29 |
| 13 | Dolphins | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 520 | 631 | −111 | 24 |
| 14 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 527 | 653 | −126 | 24 |
| 15 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 438 | 769 | −331 | 20 |
| 16 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 474 | 673 | −199 | 16 |
| 17 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 385 | 675 | −290 | 14 |

### Matches

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| Saturday, 4 March | 1 | North Queensland Cowboys | Queensland Country Bank Stadium | 19 - 18 | Emre Guler 37' Tom Starling 53' Jack Wighton 57' | Jamal Fogarty (3/3) | 19,855 |
| Saturday, 11 March | 2 | Dolphins | Kayo Stadium | 20 - 14 | Jack Wighton 13' Nick Cotric 28' | Jamal Fogarty (1/2) PG:Jamal Fogarty (2/2) | 10,023 |
| Sunday, 19 March | 3 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | GIO Stadium | 24 - 20 | Albert Hopoate 15' Matt Timoko 43' Corey Horsburgh (2) 30' 51' | Jamal Fogarty (4/4) | 14,134 |
| Sunday, 26 March | 4 | Newcastle Knights | McDonald Jones Stadium | 24 - 14 | Hudson Young 3' Jack Wighton 23' | Corey Harawira-Naera (2/2) 2P FG:Matt Frawley | 15,106 |
| Friday, 31 March | 5 | Penrith Panthers | GIO Stadium | 53 - 12 | Elliott Whitehead 31' Hudson Young 56' | Jamal Fogarty (2/2) | 15,334 |
| Saturday, 8 April | 6 | Brisbane Broncos | Lang Park | 20 - 14 | Jordan Rapana (2) 4' 29' Albert Hopoate 50' | Jarrod Croker (3/3) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 31,962 |
| Sunday, 16 April | 7 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | GIO Stadium | 20 - 14 | Sebastian Kris 45' Matthew Timoko 62' Hudson Young 72' | Jarrod Croker (3/3) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 13,817 |
| | 8 | BYE | | | | | |
| Saturday, 29 April | 9 | Dolphins | McDonald's Park | 31 - 30 | Jarrod Croker 1' Jack Wighton 5' Jordan Rapana 20' Sebastian Kris 35' Jamal Fogarty 66' | Jarrod Croker (3/5) PG: Jarrod Croker (2/2) 1P FG: Jamal Fogarty | 10,445 |
| Friday, 5 May | 10 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Lang Park | 34 -30 | Jordan Rapana (2) 1' 44' Xavier Savage 16' Matthew Timoko 19' Hudson Young 22' Jarrod Croker 57' | Jarrod Croker (4/6) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 41,462 |
| Saturday, 13 May | 11 | Parramatta Eels | GIO Stadium | 26 - 18 | Albert Hopoate 36' Hudson Young 42' Sebastian Kris 45' Matthew Timoko 74' | Jarrod Croker (3/4) PG: Jarrod Croker (2/2) | 17,414 |
| Sunday, 21 May | 12 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | GIO Stadium | 42 - 14 | Elliott Whitehead 5' Ata Mariota 68' | Jarrod Croker (2/2) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 14,730 |
| Saturday, 27 May | 13 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Accor Stadium | 33 - 26 | Corey Horsburgh 13' Albert Hopoate (3) 17' 22' 73' Tom Starling 58' | Jarrod Croker (4/5) PG: Jarrod Croker (2/2) 1P FG: Jamal Fogarty | 12,382 |
| Friday, 2 June | 14 | Wests Tigers | Campbelltown Sports Stadium | 20 - 19 | Jamal Fogarty (2) 6' 48' Jordan Rapana 32' | Jamal Fogarty (3/3) PG:Jamal Fogarty (1/1) | 11,201 |
| Friday, 9 June | 15 | New Zealand Warriors | GIO Stadium | 36 - 14 | Jack Wighton 21' Josh Papali'i 77' | Jarrod Croker (2/2) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 21,082 |
| | 16 | BYE | | | | | |
| Sunday, 25 June | 17 | Sydney Roosters | Allianz Stadium | 20 - 18 | Jack Wighton 16' Albert Hopoate 21' Matthew Timoko 28' | Jarrod Croker (2/3) PG: Jarrod Croker (2/2) | 13,326 |
| Saturday, 1 July | 18 | Gold Coast Titans | GIO Stadium | 26 - 22 | Albert Hopoate 1' Sebastian Kris 16' Matthew Timoko 49' Hudson Young 73' | Jarrod Croker (4/4) PG: Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 11,659 |
| Friday, 7 July | 19 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | WIN Stadium | 36 - 26 | Jordan Rapana 8' Joseph Tapine 16' Matthew Timoko (2) 25' 48' Matt Frawley 39' Sebastian Kris 71' | Jarrod Croker (6/6) | 9,319 |
| | 20 | BYE | | | | | |
| Friday, 21 July | 21 | New Zealand Warriors | Mt Smart Stadium | 21 - 20 | Hudson Young 18' Jordan Rapana 63' Elliott Whitehead 78' Jack Wighton 79' | Jarrod Croker (2/4) | 19,112 |
| Saturday, 29 July | 22 | Newcastle Knights | GIO Stadium | 28 - 6 | Jordan Rapana 51' | Jarrod Croker (1/1) | 15,487 |
| Sunday, 6 August | 23 | Wests Tigers | GIO Stadium | 22 - 18 | Sebastian Kris (2) 25' 44' Hudson Young 28' Matthew Timoko 63' | Jamal Fogarty (3/4) | 12,841 |
| Sunday, 13 August | 24 | Melbourne Storm | AAMI Park | 48 - 2 | | PG: Jamal Fogarty (1/1) | 17,369 |
| Sunday, 20 August | 25 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | GIO Stadium | 36 - 24 | Matthew Timoko (2) 11' 49' Jarrod Croker 31' Nick Cotric 60' Jordan Rapana 67' Josh Papali'i 72' | Jarrod Croker (6/6) | 12,402 |
| Saturday, 26 August | 26 | Brisbane Broncos | GIO Stadium | 29 - 18 | Matt Frawley 17' Nick Cotric 31' Hudson Young 37' | Jamal Fogarty (2/3) PG:Jamal Fogarty (1/1) | 19,400 |
| Sunday, 3 September | 27 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | PointsBet Stadium | 24 - 6 | Jordan Rapana 4' | Jamal Fogarty (1/1) | 12,750 |
| Sunday, 10 September | Elimination Finals | Newcastle Knights | McDonald Jones Stadium | 30 - 28 | James Schiller (2) 18' 39' Trey Mooney 31' Matt Frawley 64' Tom Starling 77' | Jamal Fogarty (4/5) | 29,548 |

## 2023 squad
### Year End Player Movement

The following players departed the Canberra Raiders following the 2023 NRL Season.
| Player | New Club |
| Jarrod Croker | Retirement |
| Matt Frawley | Leeds Rhinos |
| Harley Smith-Shields | Gold Coast Titans |
| Jack Wighton | South Sydney Rabbitohs |

## Player Milestones

| Round | Player | Milestone |
| Round 1 | Danny Levi | Club debut |
| Round 1 | Pasami Saulo | Club debut |
| Round 6 | Peter Hola | Club debut |
| Round 15 | Jarrod Croker | 300th game |
| Round 24 | Ethan Strange | NRL debut |
| Round 27 | Hohepa Puru | NRL debut |
| Finals 1 | Jordan Rapana | 200th NRL game |

## Statistics

| Name | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points |
| Nick Cotric | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Jarrod Croker | 15 | 3 | 59 | 0 | 130 |
| Jamal Fogarty | 24 | 3 | 28 | 2 | 70 |
| Matt Frawley | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Emre Guler | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Corey Harawira-Naera | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Peter Hola | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Albert Hopoate | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| Corey Horsburgh | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Sebastian Kris | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Danny Levi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ata Mariota | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Trey Mooney | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Josh Papali'i | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Hohepa Puru | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Rapana | 21 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Pasami Saulo | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Savage | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| James Schiller | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Brad Schneider | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harley Smith-Shields | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Starling | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Ethan Strange | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joseph Tapine | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Matthew Timoko | 25 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Adrian Trevilyan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elliott Whitehead | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Jack Wighton | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Zac Woolford | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hudson Young | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 30 players used | — | 83 | 89 | 2/1 | 514 |

## Representative honours

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2023.
| Player | All Stars match | State of Origin 1 | State of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | Prime Minister's XIII | Pacific Cup/Bowl | Tonga in England |
| Emre Guler | | | | | Australia | | |
| Corey Harawira-Naera | Māori | | | | | | |
| Corey Horsburgh | | | | Queensland | | | |
| Jordan Rapana | Māori | | | | | | |
| Joseph Tapine | Māori (c) | | | | | New Zealand | |
| Matthew Timoko | | | | | | New Zealand | |
| Jack Wighton | Indigenous | | | | | | |
| Elliott Whitehead | | | | | | | England |
| Hudson Young | | New South Wales | New South Wales | | Australia | | |