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Raiders will look to sign experienced half if Fogarty leaves, confirms Ricky Stuart
Sam Kosack • April 25th, 2025 8:00 am
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has revealed his team will enter the market for an experienced half should Jamal Fogarty opt to exit the club and sign with the Manly Sea Eagles.
Fogarty, the Raiders’ halfback, has been offered a three-year deal worth $700,000 a year by the Sea Eagles, in an effort to replace outgoing captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Stuart has two potential halfback replacements in 21-year-old Ethan Sanders and 24-year-old Adam Cook, however, admitted that neither player would be guaranteed the halfback jersey, and he would seek to sign another experienced half to help develop his young halves.
“I will go in for another experienced half because it’s such a big position. It’s such a lot of pressure to have on you,” Stuart told SEN 1170 Drive.
“I’ve got another young half there, Ethan Sanders, I’ve got another young half here in Adam Cook and Ethan Strange, it’s a big job.
“I will be looking for another player that has the ability to play a couple of positions or play halfback that can help those boys transition and develop in their early parts of their career playing NRL.”
Cherry-Evans, Chad Townsend, Jackson Hastings, and Adam Doueihi are some experienced halves still without a contract for next season, though there is no suggestion the Raiders will pursue any of them.
Stuart, however, hadn’t given up hope that Fogarty would reject the Sea Eagles’ offer and stay at the club, expressing why the Raiders only offered the half two years and why he was worried about Manly’s three-year offer.
“We’re being very honest and upfront with Jamal, we’re offering two years because we’ve got a couple of young halves there but if Jamal is playing better than the young halves… we give him another contract it’s up to the young halves to put Jamal out,” Stuart admitted.
“There’s a lot of rumours and speculation in the media that there’s a deal done with Manly, I mean if so, it’s the quickest deal done in history if it’s done… if that’s real, three years at $700,000, Jamal should take it. I’d love to keep him, but we can’t match that.
“I hope that they are going to make sure that he is there for their third year and that he doesn’t get paid out or tossed out.
“He’s a big part of our squad and he’s a good friend and we can’t offer him three years because what if we have to toss him out? I don’t want to do that to Jamal. I’m offering him two years because I know he’s able to play two years.”
Fogarty will be 32 at the beginning of next season, meaning he would be 35 by the end of the rumoured new contract.
Reports suggest an announcement by the Sea Eagles could be done as soon as the Raiders’ next game on Sunday against the Dolphins.
