Raiders boosted as young gun inks new deal

The Raiders have been given a big boost after one of their most improved young players re-committed to the club on a long-term deal. Boom 24-year-old Matt Timoko, the club's 2021 Rookie of the Year is becoming one of the most exciting centres in the competition and has sealed his future for the Green Machine by signing on until 2026, with an option in the deal to extend until 2028. It's a huge coup for the club, which is attempting to rebuild into a premiership contender after Jack Wighton's exit signalled the end of a successful era that peaked with a tight grand final loss to the Roosters in 2019. Timoko has scored 20 tries in his 64 NRL appearances for the Raiders, with his rise capped by selection in the New Zealand team that won last year's Pacific Championship. He said it was an easy call to keep the faith with the Raiders. "This club has done a lot. The big thing I can see with this club is there is a clear pathway of where they want to get to and there's a lot of emerging talent and I really believe that this club can do a lot of special things over the next couple of years, so I'm happy to be on board, be along with the journey and help some of the younger guys coming through too," Timoko said. "It's good seeing some of the young boys now coming in and not only playing a role but exceeding their roles and playing a really big part in these first couple of games. "It's early days at the moment but I really feel this club is going to be special this year. Not only this year but the coming years as well. It's awesome to be part of the journey and to help guide those boys as well." Timoko added that he was hoping his new deal would be a springboard to new heights for his club and more representative appearances. Raiders recruitment boss Joel Carbone said the club was thrilled to lock down Timoko's services. "Matt is a great example of a young player who came here for an opportunity and has gone on to develop into not only a wonderful NRL player but an international player," Carbone said. "We're really excited to see where Matt can take his game over the next few years, and we believe he will only continue to improve and be a big part of any success we have in the future."