Few clubs experienced more of a rollercoaster ride over the 2023 season than Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders.Canberra lost four of its first five games and appeared certain to miss the finals before stringing together a host of wins that saw it in top-four contention.In the end, they just fell into the top eight, and bowed out in the opening finals round - but not before giving hot favourites Newcastle an almighty scare.The Raiders found a way to ice the close games in 2023 and that got them into the finals - their for-and-against was an unflattering -137 yet of their 14 wins, every one was by 12 points or less.New signing Jamal Fogarty made the No.7 jumper his own and played some decent footy, steering the Raiders around the park.Centre Matt Timoko came of age as an NRL player, as did fiery forward Corey Horsburgh, who deservedly won his maiden Queensland jersey.Timoko finished with 11 tries - equal top scorer with another man who gave his heart and soul every week, utility back Jordan Rapana.But the loss of star utility Jack Wighton - and the club's inability to replace him to date - shapes as a real worry looking ahead to 2024.
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