Canberra's youth movement ready to take on Gold Coast

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has lauded the leadership of Jamal Fogarty as the halfback prepares for another battle with his former club, the Gold Coast Titans.

The Titans let Fogarty leave to join the Raiders at the end of 2021 and handed their No.7 jersey to Toby Sexton, who they’ve since released to head to Canterbury.

It’s been a different story for Fogarty in the nation’s capital, becoming the rock at the heart of an emerging Raiders outfit that’s made an impressive start to the NRL season.

“When you've got standards and values as a football team, you need them lived … he's a role model in those three areas of team-first, hard work and humility,” Stuart said.

“It's amazing when you give a player confidence and have belief in him, it's amazing what they can actually strive to do.”

While the Titans are still trying to find their ideal halves pairing, Fogarty’s new partner Ethan Strange has hit the ground running to establish himself as the Raiders’ five-eighth of the future.

Chevy Stewart
Fullback Chevy Stewart is one of a number of emerging young guns at Canberra.

He’ll be joined in the lineup by another teenager, his housemate Chevy Stewart, with the debutant No.1 perhaps the most exciting prospect at the club.


For Stuart, managing the expectations around the 18-year-old as he takes the role of injured veteran Jordan Rapana, was vital.

“He wants to be the best, he wants to play well, he wants to perform well obviously, but patience is a big thing, especially in the position he's in,” he said.

“It's been a real big month for Ethan and Chevy's probably ridden that month with him too because they live with each other.

“I understand why players this young want to get there, but now it's my job not to pick them too early, and make sure when I put them in there to represent the jumper, themselves and their family, that they're ready.

“I'm not expecting him to be an expert or whatnot, I'm not going to put that pressure on him. I just want him to be good at the fundamentals of his game and the rest will look after itself.”

Strange (19 years old) and Stewart (18) are joined in the backline by James Schiller (22), Sebastian Kris (24) and Matt Timoko (24).

“For those people that watch us quite intently, they will see it's probably the youngest backsline the Raiders have ever had,” Stuart said.

“I said it to the board ... this squad is transitioning into a new football team.”

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store