NRL season 2013 - Canberra Raiders

Where do you start with the green machine?
For the last few years the fate of the Canberra Raiders have seemingly revolved around Terry Campese's knee. Well at least that is how it has reported and many people have held the same opinion.
Young gun halves Sam Williams and Josh McCrone blew that theory out of the water last year when they led the Raiders to the finals.
The young pairing took a while to click, but when they did they managed to blow the more highly fancied opposition off the park.
David Furner's job at the Raiders went from being on thin ice to having his feet firmly planted on land.
He's now left with the headache of bringing Campese back into the team with the knowledge Williams and McCrone worked out how to win games together.
Canberra remained traditionally quiet on the market front during the off-season, but the recruitment of Joel Edwards from Newcastle is a good one.
Edwards is a gun back-rower and his pairing with Josh Papalii will be one to watch in 2013.
Speaking of Papalii, the news he has signed a three year contract with Parramatta is news the Raiders could've done without. By the way the rules are now, the Raiders have up until round 13 to change the young forwards mind - something which the Raiders will have to do. Papalii is one of the best young back-rowers in the game and has already been engaged in a representative tug of war between Queensland and New Zealand. It will be interesting to see what effect his future signing has on his performance this year.
The rest of Canberra's forwards are a mix of youth and experience.
In the front row there are State of Origin representatives David Shillington and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs along with the brute power of Brett White, Dane Tilse and Sam Mataora. When you add the back-rowers in Joel Thompson, Joe Picker and Mr Dependable Shaun Fensom, they're every chance of muscling up and gaining considerable yardage.
Hooker is a position they've struggled to fill and at this stage the only options are incumbent Glen Buttriss and McCrone. It is a position that has a fair bit of emphasis on it in the modern game and the Raiders are coming up a bit short in that department. 
The main problem for Canberra lie in the backline.
While you can't argue with Josh Dugan's skill as a fullback, he has spent more than a few games injured over the last few years and could become a liability if the injuries continue. Reece Robinson slipped seamlessly into the role when Dugan had an injury-enforced holiday and will find himself on the wing when the inclumbent is fit to play.
On the other wing you have mid-season signing Sandor Earl who has added a touch of class and deft ability in the air. He and centre/wing Blake Ferguson's ability to find the try line is a massive ace up the Raiders sleeve.
An injury to Jarrod Croker not only removes goal-kicking centre and 2012's top pointscorer but could give some of the young guns a shot at the big time. Jumping Jack Wighton and Edrick Lee both took their chances with both hands last year and could be one or two injuries away to securing a guaranteed spot in the top squad.
Add to that the utility value of Shaun Berrigan and Michael Picker and the Raiders could be a dark horse of the competition.
I personally don't see it happening, but I was surprised by the green machine last year and could be again if the results fall their way.

Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Reece Robinson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Blake Ferguson 5. Sandor Earl 6. Terry Campese 7. Sam Williams 8. David Shillington 9. Glenn Buttriss 10. Brett White 11. Joel Edwards 12. Sam Papalii 13. Shaun Fensom Interchange 14. Dane Tilse 15. Joel Thompson 16. Sam Mataora 17. Josh McCrone
On the fringes: Tom Leoroyd-Lars, Shaun Berrigan, Edrick Lee, Jack Wighton, Joe Picker, Michael Picker