Bailey Simonsson named to replace Jordan Rapana for Canberra Raiders' NRL clash

Bailey Simonsson has been named on the wing in Rapana's absence for the Raiders' clash with the Penrith Panthers in Wagga Wagga on Saturday.

Rapana's rib injury looms as a cruel blow for the Raiders but it has been offset by news the New Zealand international is only set to spend one to two weeks on the sideline.

Halfback Sam Williams is confident the Raiders have the depth at their disposal to fill the void left by one of the game's premier wingers as they hunt for a return to the winners circle.

Former New Zealand All Blacks sevens rugby player Simonsson proved his worth in the opening round of the season when he crossed for a try against the Gold Coast before succumbing to cramps.

The 21-year-old would likely have built on his maiden first grade appearance had Rapana not made a miraculous early return from a shoulder injury.

Williams says there is no like-for-like replacement for someone like Kiwi star Rapana, urging Simonsson to put his own spin on a Raiders outfit sitting in the NRL's top four.

"The work he does in the middle stages of the game when the game is tight and tough, he comes in and does a lot of that work and he is probably one of the best in the competition at it," Williams said.

"Rapa is certainly his own player, he is very awkward. He is probably a little bit different to some of the really big wingers who just run it straight.

"The players who come in are confident in their own abilities and what they can bring. You don't to try to replicate someone, but they will do a really good job for us.

"Bailey Simonsson did a really good job for us when he played in round one. We're lucky to have that sort of depth, and we did speak about it after Bailey's debut, that we know if called upon, he can do a job."

Simonsson has ousted Michael Oldfield in the race to the No. 5 jersey in another sign of the club's improving depth across the board.

Oldfield is a proven first grade player having scored 25 tries in 39 NRL games - including seven in nine for Canberra - but opportunities have been hard to come by behind Rapana and Nick Cotric.

But he is set to bide his time before making an NRL return having only rejoined NSW Cup outfit Mounties a fortnight ago following a niggling groin injury.

Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has drafted young forwards Corey Horsburgh and Hudson Young back into the top 17 at the expense of Jack Murchie and Emre Guler.

Stuart has been rotating his crop of young forwards in a bid to manage their workloads as they adjust to the rigours of first grade football.

Fiery redhead Horsburgh has quickly emerged as a fan favourite and returns to the side after a stint with Mounties designed to give him more playing time, while Young is back in the fold after a one-week exile.

Oldfield, Guler and Murchie join Aidan Sezer on the extended bench for the trip to Wagga.

Raiders back-rower Elliott Whitehead has backed Stuart's rotation policy, one that has both given rising stars a taste of NRL football and put pressure on the mainstays in the forward pack to maintain lofty standards.

"[Stuart] brought Emre and Murchie in last week and I thought they put in a good performance," Whitehead said.

"The boys that have been coming have all been doing a great job and it just shows what depth we've got at the club at the moment.

"We've got to bounce back this week [following a loss to Manly Warringah last week], we've got a tough game against Penrith and they will be wanting to win just as much as now."

NRL ROUND EIGHT

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Penrith Panthers at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga, 3pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Bailey Simonsson, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (C), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Hudson Young, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Bench: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Jack Murchie