The remarkable debut season of young gun Savelio Tamale has become a powerful source of inspiration for new Canberra Raiders recruit Sione Finau, who now aims to make the centre position his own in the nation's capital.
From Dragons teammates to Green Machine ambitions
Just last year, Finau and Tamale were teammates at St George Illawarra, grinding it out together in the NSW Cup. Tamale's subsequent move to Canberra and his explosive start to life as a Raider made a significant impression on Finau.
Now, both players are part of the Green Machine, with Finau signing a contract that will keep him in Canberra until the end of the 2028 NRL season. They both made the journey to the ACT seeking greater opportunity, and Finau openly hopes to follow in the footsteps of his friend's success.
Tamale's impact was immediate and profound. Before a long-term knee injury cut his season short, he was a genuine contender for the 2025 NRL Rookie of the Year award. In the opening 14 rounds, he scored six tries and made the left wing spot his own, a stunning feat for a player who arrived in Canberra with just one NRL game to his name.
Finau's recovery and positional targets
Sione Finau finds himself on a similar path, having played only seven first-grade games across the past three seasons with the Dragons. He is now focused on pushing his case for more game time during the pre-season, using Tamale's journey as a blueprint.
"We've been mates since 2022 and he's definitely influenced my decision," Finau admitted. "He's had a cracker of a year this year right before injury. It could have went better, but definitely inspired me to come here."
While Finau is happy to play anywhere in the outside backs, having started most of his games on the wing, he has a clear target in mind. "I don't mind [centre or wing], but centre is probably a position I want to utilise," he said. "I grew up playing a bit of centre... I feel like I can add some depth to the line, and hopefully I can get a crack."
This ambition will see him putting pressure on the established centre pairing of Sebastian Kris and Matt Timoko, both of whom were recently involved in the New Zealand Kiwis' victorious Pacific Championships campaign.
The 23-year-old Finau is progressing well from a serious shoulder injury that required a reconstruction after a dislocation in Round 20 against Canterbury. He is expected to return to full contact training after Christmas and will be ready for the pre-season trials.
Potential early arrival for Broncos halfback
In other recruitment news for the Canberra Raiders, there are positive signs that young playmaker Coby Black could join the club a year ahead of schedule.
The 19-year-old has formally asked the Brisbane Broncos for a release from the final year of his contract, which would pave the way for an immediate move to the Green Machine for the 2026 NRL season. Black had already signed a two-year deal with Canberra set to begin in 2027.
Faced with a significant logjam of halfbacks at the Broncos, including veterans Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt, Black is seeking earlier opportunities. The Raiders are reportedly in the process of releasing a player from their top-30 squad to accommodate his potential arrival in the coming weeks.
This move would provide a substantial boost to Canberra's halfback stocks. While Ethan Sanders will get the first opportunity to replace the departed Jamal Fogarty, Black's arrival would add crucial depth and competition for the number seven jersey.
The Raiders' pre-season is already underway, and the potential early acquisition of a promising talent like Black signals an ambitious and proactive approach to building their squad for the future.
