Canberra Raiders might loan New Zealand Warriors move

Canberra have lost a few front rowers in recent weeks after the departures of Luke Bateman, Jack Murchie and JJ Collins.

Murchie has joined the Warriors for the rest of the 2020 NRL season, after the Kiwi team had a raft of injuries to their forward pack.

It's also seen the Warriors sign Sydney Roosters prop Poasa Faamausili on a one-month loan.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner said they were eyeing loans as a possible way to bolster their own list.

Furner said they were on the lookout for more permanent additions to their squad, with any injuries potentially forcing their hands.

"Definitely we are looking, but Hudson Young (suspension) comes back soon, John Bateman (shoulder) will be back soon so there's two more forwards back," he said.

"The NRL are looking at a loan system as well - first time ever - like they have in England, just to get everybody through this year.

"That will be dependent on injuries. At the moment we've got enough depth there, but a few injuries and we would be back out in the market - whether it be a loan or whether we grab somebody before June 20."

The return of the NRL after a nine-week, coronavirus lockdown - along with ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys declaring the 2021 salary cap would remain as planned - means the return of contract discussions.

And the Raiders have already begun negotiations to lock in off-contract winger Nick Cotric.

"I have had one conversation with his agent. Here we are playing footy this weekend, so he's certainly a priority," Furner said.

"That's high on my list of things. We're working on that."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

The Raiders resume their NRL campaign against the Melbourne Storm in Melbourne on Saturday night.

They'll look to continue their unbeaten start to the season, where they're also looking to go one step further than last year's grand final loss.

Furner felt avenging that defeat to the Roosters could help them keep England international John Bateman on the books.

Bateman's contracted to the Green Machine for 2021, but has been allowed to explore his options with other clubs - with the Canterbury Bulldogs, St George Illawarra and Gold Coast all interested.

"We just hopefully have a really good season and it would be great to keep him. That's what we'd love to do, let's make no bones about that," he said.

"There's no one here that doesn't want that to happen. It just gets increasingly difficult with the salary cap."

The Raiders are still finalising how they'll get the players outside of their game-day 17 match fit.

The Canberra Times revealed they were looking at playing unofficial reserve-grade games, where they might use some under-20s players to bolster their numbers.

That's still on the cards, but Furner said it might not be in the first month of the NRL's resumption.

"[Raiders coach Ricky Stuart]'s also confident that the training we're doing here is game-like and that can give them a really good hit-out," Furner said.

"And there might be rotation anyway. It'll be a combination of all of those things."

NRL ROUND THREE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 7.35pm.

Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh. Interchange from: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Michael Oldfield, 18. Jordan Rapana, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Tom Starling.

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Marion Seve, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange from: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Max King, 18. Tom Eisenhuth, 19. Brenko Lee, 20. Ryley Jacks, 21. Darryn Schonig.