Act of Squad: Raiders predicted team and 2026 overview

Ricky Stuart is set to invest in a rising halfback as the Raiders aim to build on last year's surprising run to the minor premiership.

The main consideration is which young talent Stuart will choose to fill the void left by Jamal Fogarty.

He has two contenders: 21-year-old Ethan Sanders and 19-year-old Coby Black, who joined from Brisbane in December.

Both players are just beginning their professional journeys and will need time to adjust to the NRL level.

Sanders is poised to take the No. 7 jersey first, especially as Black recovers from a neck injury sustained early in the pre-season.

Complementing Sanders in the halves will be five-eighth Ethan Strange, who is expected to assume greater playmaking duties following a standout 2025 season that earned him a position in the Kangaroos Ashes squad.

The playmakers will benefit from operating behind one of the most formidable forward packs in the NRL.