Raider’s Shocking Manly Admission that Transformed His Mindset Lessons from a Club Legend

‘Get it out, stop players from diving’ | 01:11

There’s plenty to be excited about in the nation’s capital on the back of a promising 2024 campaign for the Canberra Raiders.

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They may have just missed the eight last year, but it was a result which greatly exceeded outside expectations placed on the club given the amount of youth that was blooded.

Young guns Kaeo Weekes and Ethan Strange – who entered 2024 with just 13 NRL games under their belt combined – were heavily relied upon in key spine positions.

Strange replaced club legend Jack Wighton in the halves while Weekes, who was a free agent acquisition from Manly, thrived at fullback in the back half of the season.

Weekes was seen a somewhat of a Swiss army-knife when the Raiders made the move to sign him, with the 23-year-old having played in a range of positions for the Sea Eagles across 12 games.

Unable to win a spot in the first grade side initially, he was called upon to replace the injured Jamal Fogarty in Round 8 and partner Strange in the halves.

There were good signs over the next eight games when Weekes wore the No. 7 that his signing was an astute one by the Raiders.

However, it would be later in the season when Weekes moved to fullback where he really thrived and able to show off his game-breaking speed and ability.

Weekes went over 200 metres in three of seven games at fullback, including a couple of jaw-dropping tries out of nothing.

In 17 games last season, Weekes scored eight tries and had 18 try involvements.

His play earned him selection in the Prime Minister’s XIII team that faced PNG and Weekes starred with two tries.

Weekes is the red-hot favourite to don the Raiders No. 1 jersey when they open their season against the Warriors in Las Vegas.

Speaking to foxsports.com.au about his whirlwind debut season in green, Weekes labelled the experience “unbeatable”.

“It was a good season for myself. There was a lot of lessons learned. I went through a rough patch early but I learnt a lot,” Weekes said.

“I loved every minute of it. I got to play in the halves and at the back so the experience was unbeatable and I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

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Given Weekes battled with Strange in the pre-season for the vacant No. 6 jersey following Wighton’s departure to Souths, it was assumed that Weekes would be viewed as a half going forward.

That was his way into the side when Fogarty when down with a bicep injury.

Weekes did a decent job deputising for Fogarty at halfback, so when the veteran was due to return, it was hard to see a scenario where the Raiders could drop Weekes.

The mystery would be solved after veteran Raider Jordan Rapana’s revelation at training.

“Playing in the halves were pretty enjoyable but we had Rapa last year who was getting older and his body wasn’t really handling it so he came up to me after one game and said ‘you’re playing fullback, I’m going back to the wing’,” Weekes told foxsports.com.au.

“From there, I played fullback and enjoyed it.

“I wasn’t really expecting to play fullback (last season).”

Despite dealing with several niggling injuries, Rapana was inspirational at times in 2024.

He often was during his ten-year career with Canberra, playing through injury and putting his body on the line to help his team win.

The veteran has since left the club, signing a two-year deal with Super League team Hull F.C.

Weekes said Rapana’s presence was a huge asset to himself and the other young guys on the Raiders.

“He’s a very big competitor. He never backs down from anything,” Weekes said.

“Growing up and watching him play for the Raiders, I’d think that ‘this guy is crazy’. He has that never say die attitude.

“Sometimes he’d get into me but he was pushing me and it’d help.”

It was seen of somewhat of a surprise when the Sea Eagles decided to let Weekes leave in free agency, given how highly spruiked he was coming through the club’s pathways.

He was signed by Manly as a 14-year old and progressed through the grades as both a fullback and five-eighth prospect.

Following his NRL debut in Round 19, 2022, Weekes only played a smattering of games (12) across the next two seasons, mostly off the bench.

Unfortunately for Weekes, he was unable to make enough of an impact to lock down a consistent first grade spot for the Sea Eagles.

While he admitted his frustration

“It was mostly on my part. You have to play good footy to be picked,” Weekes said.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t really playing that great of footy to deserve to be picked.

“You have to go back and work on your craft and be hungry so coming to Canberra was the best thing for me.

“It changed my mindset for the better.”