The Canberra Raiders are racing against the clock to secure the future of one of their key forwards, setting a firm deadline to finalise a new deal for English international Morgan Smithies.
Contract Talks Hit Crucial Phase
Raiders chief executive Don Furner has confirmed the club is eager to wrap up negotiations with Smithies before the end of the year. The 25-year-old front-rower, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2026 NRL season, has been in discussions with the club since July.
"Morgan has just gotten back from overseas, so we're working through that one at the moment," Furner told The Canberra Times. "Hopefully that can get done. Obviously we don't want it to drag on much longer."
Smithies returned to Australia recently after representing England on international duty, allowing face-to-face talks to resume as the NRL pre-season gets underway.
Stable Roster with Key Exceptions
While the Raiders boast one of the most stable rosters in the competition heading into 2026, Smithies remains a significant piece of unfinished business. The club is hopeful of keeping the hard-running forward in the capital until at least the end of 2029.
Smithies shares an agent with teammate Ata Mariota, whose own deal to remain in Canberra until 2028 was finalised in late October. The club had hoped Smithies would follow suit shortly after, but an agreement has yet to be reached.
Interestingly, Mariota's re-signing has also not been officially announced by the club despite being agreed upon months ago.
Alongside Smithies and Mariota, only veteran forward Josh Papali'i and winger Jed Stuart are off-contract after 2026 and free to negotiate with rival clubs. Stuart, who enjoyed a strong debut NRL season under the guidance of his father, coach Ricky Stuart, is considered unlikely to move.
New Faces and Pre-Season Buzz
Amid the contract discussions, the Raiders have been integrating new recruits into their pre-season preparations. Experienced hooker Jayden Brailey, who joined from the Newcastle Knights on a two-year deal, has settled in quickly.
"My first few weeks in Canberra have been really good," Brailey said. "I feel like the old head of the [hooker] group... I'm just really excited."
The 29-year-old made it clear he didn't move to the nation's capital to play reserve grade, despite the strong form of incumbent hookers Tom Starling and Owen Pattie last season. Brailey expressed enthusiasm about playing behind the Raiders' formidable forward pack.
"The Raiders have always had such a strong forward pack... and I'm really excited to play alongside those guys," he added.
Outside-back Chevy Stewart, who had permission to talk to other clubs due to an option in his contract for 2027, has reported for pre-season training and appears set to remain in Canberra.
