\n
<\/p>\n
The Canberra Raiders<\/a> stunned many in 2025.<\/p>\n Written off by most before a ball was kicked, they responded by claiming their first minor premiership in 35 years. <\/p>\n They made a statement on opening night in Las Vegas, flogging the New Zealand Warriors<\/a>. They beat every team in the top eight except the Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a>, a match they led 20\u20130 at halftime before letting it slip away. <\/p>\n Their first final against the Brisbane Broncos<\/a> was one of the games of the season. Leading 28\u201312 with roughly 17 minutes remaining, they were ambushed by a Reece Walsh<\/a> led comeback after his return from the sin bin. <\/p>\n The Raiders thought they had the match won on three separate occasions only for tries to be disallowed. A penalty after the siren tied the match and sent it into golden point, where Brisbane prevailed. <\/p>\n Six days later they fell to the Cronulla Sharks<\/a> and went out in straight sets. Ricky Stuart<\/a> was named Coach of the Year, but for the Raiders to take the next step, several players must rise again in 2026.<\/p>\n 1. Owen Pattie<\/p>\n Owen Pattie<\/a> is one of the brightest young hookers in the NRL<\/a>. He burst onto the scene in 2025 with impressive energy, vision out of dummy half, and strong defensive technique. <\/p>\n His enthusiasm and skill level have Raiders fans genuinely excited, with some even touting him as the player most likely to challenge Harry Grant<\/a> in years to come. <\/p>\n Canberra have depth at hooker with Tom Starling<\/a> and Jayden Brailey<\/a> on the roster, but Pattie is widely viewed as the future. His ability to push for starting minutes could be a key factor in whether the Raiders remain a top-four force.<\/p>\n Why his role is so important<\/p>\n A fast, clean service out of dummy half will set the platform for a young spine. Key areas of focus for 2026<\/p>\n Maintaining consistency across 80 minutes in high intensity games.
\nHis energy and defensive work can swing the tempo in key moments.
\nWith two experienced hookers around him, his rise could give Canberra the best hooking rotation in the competition.<\/p>\n
\nImproving his composure in big moments after some finals series learning experiences.
\nAdding more deception and tempo control to his attacking game.
\nContinuing to build his defensive base to handle bigger forward packs.<\/p>\n