"Earn my stripes": Brailey vows to fight for spot in Raiders' Round 1 side

Jayden Brailey has vowed to fight for a spot in the Raiders’ best 17 come Round 1 as the new Canberra recruit pushes for the starting hooker position.

Brailey joins the Raiders in 2026 in search of a fresh start and is battling it out with Tom Starling and Owen Pattie for two places in the first-grade side.

Starling was one of the competition’s breakout players in 2025, starting at hooker on Canberra’s run to the minor premiership.

Meanwhile, Pattie was primarily used off the bench in his debut season, impressing with his impact late in games.

Brailey arrives from Newcastle, having played there for the last six seasons and finishing on a 24-game season at the club, his greatest tally in a single season at the club.

Despite the form of Canberra’s hookers last season, Brailey is determined to break into the Raiders’ best side but remains realistic about the competition for the spot.

“Goals for me (in 2026), I want to play consistent first grade footy, that's for me,” Brailey told SEN 1170 Mornings.

“There's obviously a lot of competition in my position, and I'm not too concerned about what's going on around me. I'm just trying to be the best version of myself.

“It's probably the most competition, as a hooker, I've had in my whole career and I feel I've, obviously (with a) fresh start, got to earn my stripes again. I've got to really fight for every inch.

“I've felt that from day one of preseason, and it's really going to bring the best out of me.

“Nothing's guaranteed for me, personally and these boys did a tremendous job for the team in season 2025.

“They were outstanding for us so, for me, I can't control any of that but what I can control is how I train.

“I just want to be the best version of myself, and I'll end up where I deserve off the back of that and the type of footy I play.

“That’s the environment Stick’s (Ricky Stuart) creating… high competition for spots and hooker is an important position.

“We're all going to lean on each other at different stages in the year, and I'm just looking forward to the challenge and what's ahead.”

The other key position up for grabs at the Raiders is at halfback.

Following the departure of Jamal Fogarty to the Sea Eagles, young duo Ethan Sanders, 21, and Coby Black, 19, are the two players competing for the vacant spot.

With both halves considered long-term prestigious talents, Brailey identified the one half he’s been particularly impressed with during pre-season.

“Sando (Ethan Sanders) has definitely stood out for me,” Brailey said glowingly.

“He's been biding his time behind Jamal Fogarty over the last couple of years, and I hadn't seen a whole lot of footy of him in the past, but he's really gone up a gear with the opportunity that's in front of him and really taken the team by the scruff of the neck in these early stages of preseason.

“He's really stood out for me, and his kicking game’s top class.

“I’m sure he's set for a big season for us.”

The Raiders begin their season against Fogarty’s Sea Eagles on Saturday March 7.