Raiders forward Bronson Harrison has opened up to club members about the most frustrating season of his NRL career and addressed speculation about whether he is being squeezed out of Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite having two seasons to run on his contract with the Raiders, the New Zealand international has been subject to rumours that he is on the outer at the Raiders and is being shopped around other clubs.
That speculation has intensified in the past fortnight with the Raiders signing two back rowers, including Newcastle's Joel Edwards and Jake Foster from the Bulldogs.
After Harrison started in Canberra's first seven matches, ankle and back injuries have restricted the 26-year-old to only three appearances in the Raiders' past 13 matches.
In an open forum with invited Raiders members, attended by The Canberra Times, Harrison admitted it had been a frustrating.
''By far this has been my most disruptive year, it's been the hardest too,'' Harrison said in today's Friday Footy liftout. ''Injuries are not nice for anyone but I've had some bulging discs and it's started pushing on some nerves so you get a little bit of numbness down your leg and can't sleep properly. I've looked after it the best way I can - I've been going to acupuncture, physio, the oseteopath.''
Harrison made his return to the field via Canberra's NSW Cup feeder team Mounties last weekend.
He has been named on an extended Canberra bench for Sunday's must-win match against the Penrith Panthers, but he's unlikely to be called-up unless Joe Picker fails to recover from the effects of concussion.
Harrison has been linked with a possible switch to the Newcastle Knights, under Wayne Bennett, who he worked with in the New Zealand team.
However, it's understood Newcastle's preference is to try and lure another Kiwi international, Jeremy Smith, out of Cronulla.
Harrison said he was aware of the speculation.
''It's not my preference to leave, I know things have popped up in the paper along the way,'' Harrison said.
''I've got another two years but sometimes the decision's not always in my hands, so I'm not too sure yet. If the club would like me to stay that would be my preference.''
The Raiders should be able to field all current players in their 2013 salary cap, with the limit likely to increase towards $5 million when the new broadcast deal is finalised. But Trevor Thurling is another who has been advised to try and secure his future at another club.
