Former representative prop and Raiders assistant coach Dean Pay has backed the club's forward depth to stand up to the challenge against the two most damaging front-rowers in the NRL.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Raiders will be without two of their most experienced campaigners when they face Kangaroos props Matt Scott and James Tamou in Saturday night's season opener in Townsville.
David Shillington (ribs) and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (foot) will miss the trip to North Queensland to face the Cowboys.
Fellow veterans Brett White and Dane Tilse are expected to form part of the starting front row, while impressive second-year forward Paul Vaughan will be joined by one of Shannon Boyd, Mark Nicholls or Jarrad Kennedy.
Boyd is yet to make his first-grade debut, while Vaughan (18 games), Nicholls (14) and Kennedy (six) have just 38 appearances at the top level combined.
Pay said containing the Cowboys' duo would be one of the keys if the Raiders were to get the Ricky Stuart era off to a winning start.
''They're probably the two premier front-rowers at the moment, so it's going to be a big challenge for us,'' Pay said.
''It's a big blow for us losing Shillington and Learoyd-Lahrs and they both had really good off-seasons.
''We've still got White and Tilse, and there's a couple of the younger guys who have trained really well.
''Experience helps, but to get experience you've got to play, so those young guys are going to get their chance.''
Shillington is due back in round two after sustaining a rib injury in the final trial game against Newcastle, while Learoyd-Lahrs could be back as soon as the following week after rolling his ankle at training last week.
Boyd looms as the bolter after being included along with Nicholls and Kennedy in a 20-man squad for the round-one clash.
The 21-year-old has lost 10 kilograms during the pre-season, but is still the heaviest player at the Raiders, tipping the scales at 119kg.
Pay was aware of Boyd's potential before he joined the Raiders this season from the Eels.
''I coached Shannon in the NSW under-20s team a couple of years ago, so I've kept an eye on him,'' Pay said.
''He needed to [lose that weight], he was too heavy and by his own standards he was a little bit off the pace. He is one guy who has really impressed.''
