Here’s a concise update on the saga:
The Canberra Raiders found themselves “left fuming” after the Sydney Roosters successfully lured away Joel Carbone, the club’s trusted recruitment officer. Carbone has been pivotal in Canberra’s impressive form, sitting second on the ladder, and his departure to the Tri‑Colours is seen as a direct ploy by the Roosters to weaken a key competitor—much to the Raiders’ chagrin ([raidercast.com.au][1]).
Meanwhile, the Raiders also lost other key personnel this off-season—but for more personal reasons. Front‑rower Emre Guler was granted an early exit to return to Sydney and support his family’s Turkish kebab business. Despite Canberra’s attempts to offer him a more lucrative deal, Guler prioritized being closer to his loved ones and has since signed a two‑year deal with St George Illawarra, who are aiming for a finals resurgence ([news.com.au][2]).
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** What this means for the Raiders**
* Losing Carbone is a significant hit to their recruitment strategy; his networking and player acquisition insights played a major role in building their current squad.
* Guler’s exit weakens their forward pack depth, though the club did support his move for valid personal reasons.
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These twin losses—one strategic, one personal—leave Canberra having to rebuild both staff and playing depth. They’ll need to move quickly to plug gaps in recruitment and forward rotations if they hope to maintain their current form.
