In 2024, the job of a lifetime for Ricky Stuart is to keep Canberra competitive after several key departures, not many arrivals and a host of players who are towards the back of their careers. The Raiders managed to turn many close games into victories in 2024. The emergence of Matt Timoko as an elite center offers hope for the team, but there is little feeling that 2024 will be as good as 2023. The team has made three signings, but their contribution might not significantly improve the areas that the team needs. Key players like Jack Wighton and Jarrod Croker have left, leaving gaps to fill in the team. The spine is a problem, especially with limited experience in key positions, and there is uncertainty about the quality of the team for Round 1.