Former NRL premiership winner Bryan Fletcher has questioned Raiders coach Ricky Stuart over the shock signing of Brisbane young gun Coby Black. The 19-year-old Brisbane academy product will link up with Stuart in Canberra at the end of next season, with the Raiders also picking up former Penrith star Daine Laurie for next season in an exciting double swoop.
Black’s decision to leave the Broncos has taken the premiers by shock, with the teenage prodigy recently described by coach Michael Maguire as the ‘future of the club’. The talented halfback – who featured in Queensland’s U/19 side this year – was long regarded as the successor to Brisbane No.7 Adam Reynolds.
But Jonah Pezet’s signing on a three-year deal from 2027 threw Black’s future at the Broncos into question. The club has also signed young halfback Tom Duffy from the Cowboys for next season, which further complicated Black’s situation.
Ezra Mam is locked down long-term at the Broncos, and he’s expected to partner Pezet in the halves in 2027 if Reynolds decides to retire at the end of next season. However, the veteran skipper has hinted that he could still play on in 2027.
With Ben Hunt also in the mix, it left Black’s path to first-grade footy blocked and the teenager has decided to seek a fresh start under Stuart in Canberra. The Raiders have lost halfback Jamal Fogarty to Manly next season, with Stuart revealing that young gun Ethan Sanders would be given first crack in the No.7 jersey in 2026.
Sanders and Black are then set to battle it out for the halfback spot when the Brisbane teenager arrives in 2027. But former Roosters star Fletcher says the signing of Black took him by surprise after Stuart revealed earlier in the year that the Raiders would be looking for an experienced half to replace Fogarty.
Bryan Fletcher shocked by Canberra’s signing of Coby Black
“No one saw this coming,” Fletcher said on SEN radio. “I can understand why he is going, but it is interesting him going to Canberra. Because when we spoke to Sticky (Ricky Stuart) when Jamal Fogarty had said he was signing with Manly, we asked him, ‘what are you going to do? Do you want a bit of a journeyman?’
“And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to put a kid straight in’. But now, it looks like Ethan Sanders is going to have a bit of competition, healthy competition. He’s (Black) only a pup himself.”
Black will spend one more year at the Broncos before making the move to Canberra, with Brisbane officials sad about losing him. But Raiders CEO Don Furner hailed their acquisition of the highly-touted halfback and says he’ll be at the ideal stage of his career when he arrives in Canberra.
“It will be great for Coby to play another year at the Broncos and also guide Souths Logan in QCup,“ Furner said. ”By then he will be 20 going on 21, so that’s a perfect age to welcome him to the Raiders.”
Former Panther Daine Laurie joins Raiders in three-year deal
The minor premiers have further boosted their ranks by signing the versatile Laurie from Penrith on a three-year deal from 2026. The former Panthers fan favourite was surprisingly not offered a new contract at the club after scoring 15 tries in 76 first grade games for Penrith and the Wests Tigers since making his NRL debut in 2020.
Laurie can cover most positions in the backline and has proven a handy back-up at Penrith over the years. He’ll likely have to settle for a similar role in Canberra but said the chance for an exciting new start at the Raiders and the long-term job security for the 26-year-old and his family were key to the decision.
“I’m really excited to rip in and connect with the boys in pre-season,” Laurie said. “I’m looking forward to making some new friendships and it’s been great to receive some security for me and my family.
“I’ve been in Sydney for about 10 years, since I made the move from the North Coast when I was a 17-year-old. It’s definitely going to be different but I’m up for the challenge and I think it’ll be a great opportunity.”
