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Of the 17 teams in the NRL, the Raiders probably have the most question marks still hanging over their heads as to the make-up of their best team with the season kick-off barely a week away.
Ricky Stuart has several players vying for key positions and these could be determined in the final round of trials this weekend.
Stuart’s dilemma starts at fullback, with Xavier Savage, Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange and Seb Kris all in contention.
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I get the impression he will go with the dynamic Savage, with Kris still getting a place in the starting 13 at centre.
Filling the gap left by club stalwart Jack Wighton at six will also prove troublesome and it seems promising Manly recruit Kaeo Weekes will get first crack at the position.
Hooker is another position up for grabs, with Zac Woolford, Danny Levi and Tom Starling all in contention.
Stuart is likely to pick two of the three – so the battle is intense.
Having snuck into the finals last year, the Raiders may have lost Wighton but have picked up four quality gains in Simi Sasagi (Knights), Weekes (Sea Eagles), Englishman Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors) and Zac Hosking (Panthers).
But they will start the season under-strength, missing Corey Harawira-Naera, who is still waiting on a clearance after that horrible seizure last year, as well as Corey Horsburgh (suspended four games) and Kris (suspended five games).
The Raiders should again figure in the battle for seventh or eighth spot, particularly if they can win their usual share of games at home – a place few clubs want to go in the dead of winter.
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Gains: Simi Sasagi (Knights), Kaeo Weekes (Sea Eagles), Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors), Zac Hosking (Panthers).
Losses: Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds Rhinos), Jarrod Croker (retired).
RAIDERS’ BEST 17
1. Xavier Savage 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Seb Kris 4. Matt Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Kaeo Weekes 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Morgan Smithies 15. Tom Starling 16. Emre Guler 17. Zac Hosking
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