Shaun Fensom Signs with the Belconnen United Sharks

More: https://www.crrl.com.au/shaun-fensom-signs-with-the-belconnen-united-sharks/

Canberra rugby league fans rejoice: Shaun Fensom is returning to the capital. The former Green Machine cult hero will link up with the Belconnen United Sharks in the Canberra Raiders Cup next season. Fensom brought down the curtain on his 176-game NRL career after a one-year stint with the Brisbane Broncos this past season. He played 139 games in lime green and reached a grand final during a two-year run with the North Queensland Cowboys. The 31-year-old workhorse will be a huge boost for the Sharks in their bid to break a finals drought - because they simply don't come any tougher than this Camden export.

More: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6491790/fennos-back-cult-hero-returns/?cs=14239

Alan Tongue walked into the change room for his NRL debut and had to pinch himself. The little tackling machine from Tamworth was about to play alongside Laurie Daley, Brett Mullins, David Furner and Jason Croker in his first game for the Canberra Raiders. He was about to run on to the field to play against a stacked Brisbane Broncos side, boasting the likes of Shane Webcke, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Darren Lockyer, Kevin Walters and Gorden Tallis. That moment in 2000 paints the perfect picture of Tongue's career, because while he was never the biggest or the best, he belonged next to rugby league's biggest names. "You know and every [rugby league] fan knows, I wasn't the most gifted rugby league player to lace on a boot," Tongue said.

More: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6489907/tongue-of-courage-raiders-great-gets-hall-of-fame-nod/?cs=14239

Elliott Whitehead says the Great Britain Lions have let themselves down. But he's hoping a rugby league-mad Papua New Guinea gives them a boost ahead of their final game. The Canberra Raiders second-rower is in Port Moresby for the Lions final Test of the year - against the Kumuls on Saturday. So far it's been a winless tour for Great Britain, who had high hopes after England made the final of the World Cup in 2017. But they've lost to Tonga and both their Tests against New Zealand.

More: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6491211/lions-have-let-themselves-down/?cs=14239

England has been such a happy hunting ground the Canberra Raiders will now look to develop generation next. They've gone into partnership with English Super League club Huddersfield to bring a couple of under-20s players out every year to find the next Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead. The Canberra Times revealed the idea back in August, when they were also considering a pre-season trial against Wigan. Speaking from England on Wednesday, Raiders chief executive Don Furner said their strong contingent of Englishmen would also help the Giants' youngsters settle in. The Raiders will have five Poms on their books for the 2020 NRL season - George Williams will join Hodgson, Whitehead, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton.

More: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6489859/raiders-look-for-next-gen-english-giants/?cs=14239