Having come into 2021 as one of the favourites to win the competition, Canberra’s season is over ending outside the top eight with a 10 win, 14 loss record.
Thursday night’s 40-16 loss to the Roosters was the final nail in the coffin of a year that started with so much promise but ended in a whimper.
Having entered last night’s clash with a finals spot still up for grabs, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio viewed their effort as bitterly disappointing.
With what they dished up this year, he believes there will be mass change to the roster heading into 2022.
“It really is disappointing,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Last night, with everything on the line, to dish up that, particularly in the second half.
“I actually thought they were on early, there was some powerful play straight through the middle…Papali’i scored, they looked okay, then it was very flat.
“Look, they cannot go around with the same roster next year.
“Speaking about how teams can improve, well the Raiders cannot simply go around with the same roster.
“There’s some talented young players coming through, but in their spine, in their halves they need to find an answer.”
With their halves underperforming, Riccio believes the club will look at veteran Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce and out of favour Titans playmaker Ash Taylor this off-season.
“I’ve mentioned Mitchell Pearce before, and the Raiders are seriously interested,” Riccio said.
“On the back of last night’s performance, Raiders fans need to ask themselves, would they play better with Mitchell Pearce in the team? That’s what management has got to ask themselves as well.
“Ash Taylor is the other one, they need a change in the halves, and I’ve got to say Jack Wighton has been extremely disappointing this year,
“He hasn’t played to his contract value, or what we expect a Dally M player to be.”