Injury has cruelled the past two NRL seasons for incoming Raider Ryan James, but one must only look back to 2016 for a glimpse at just how devastating the Gold Coast prop is at his bullocking best.
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James broke an ancient record that season, scoring an astonishing 12 tries as a front rower, beating the mark set by St George hard man Jack Holland in 1950, and equaled by Souths front rower Harry Eden in 1975.
The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal to bolster the Green Machine's front-row stocks from 2021 where he'll play alongside Josh Papalii, another prop with a penchant for crossing the try line.
Papalii, who scored the try which confirmed Canberra's place in last year's grand final, averages a shade under one every four matches making him one of the most devastating middle players in the game.
Should James rediscover his best form next season, the Raiders' forward pack will become one of the most lethal in the NRL.
"I might have to start hogging the ball a bit more next year," Papalii said when asked about his future teammate.
"He's been the best forward up at the Titans for many years.
"I played schoolboys with Ryan James. He's still the same size, still runs hard, still tackles hard.
"I only think that's going to be a plus for this team. He can share his experience and knowledge on the young boys here."
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has long been a fan of the hard running prop who has played 144 NRL matches since debuting with the Titans in 2010.
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Stuart was keen for James to sign with the Roosters as a 15-year-old, but the move never materialised.
About 15 years on the pair will finally link up.
"He's always been great for me and the players always seem like they want to play for him," James said last week.
"He's a great genuine bloke and he does great things for that club.
"I've never really been super selfish in my career and I've always wanted to help the Titans and rebuilds take a couple of years. As much as I know they'll do really well next year, Canberra have got a really great squad and they have the opportunity to go down there and play some solid football with a team that's well established and has a good core group of players.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to go down there and try and make that starting team.
"That's the new goal now, get ready, get fit, get down there and try and rip in."
James' addition will add plenty of starch to a powerful, but somewhat bruised brigade of Raiders' big men.
Papalii and Dunamis Lui have been leading the line of late, with the latter set to play his 150th NRL match this weekend against the Titans on the Gold Coast.
He's deputised superbly for Sia Soliola who is nursing a season-ending facial injury.
Young guns Emre Guler (ankle) and Corey Horsburgh (foot) are also in the rehab room at the moment.
Canberra is chasing a fifth win from their past six matches against the struggling Titans on Saturday, who are without captain Kevin Proctor who copped a four-week ban for biting.
A win would all but secure a top-eight finish for the Raiders.
Gold Coast, meanwhile, have won just one of their past five matches.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
