Vaughan, 23, became the latest in a long line of Raiders juniors to recommit to the club this year, extending his deal until the end of the 2017 season.

Despite interest from other clubs, Vaughan said he had never considered leaving Canberra and would like to be a Raider for life. But the Italian World Cup and NSW Country representative has entertained the thoughts of higher honours as early as next season, including ambitions to play for NSW Origin and Australia.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart used his speech at the club's annual presentation on Wednesday night to congratulate four Raiders selected in the Australian train-on squad, before adding: "There should have been one more." It was a reference to Vaughan, who Stuart had confided in.

"I'm happy with the year I've had and if I'd got in that [Australian train-on] squad, it would have been a bonus," Vaughan said.

"At the end of the day it wasn't to be, but I can't wait to get stuck into next year, and that can be one of my goals for next season. Hopefully in the next couple of years that's a goal I'll achieve.

"I always like to set myself really high goals, so I've always got something really hard to work towards. I'd like to make [NSW] Country again and wherever the year takes me, hopefully I can get higher rep honours ... I'm hungry for that."

Vaughan was Raiders rookie of the year last year, but stepped up to become a permanent member of the squad this year. He has previously been courted by the Melbourne Storm, but the Canberra-born prop said he was driven by loyalty.

"It is flattering [to get rival interest], but I love the Raiders, I always have," Vaughan said. "Loyalty in this day and age is hard to come by and that's what I wanted to show to the club. That's what I want to base my playing career on. I want to stay here for the rest of my career, as long as I can.

"I love the Raiders, I'm not going to shy away from that. I've made it clear I love the club and that's just how I feel."

While they have struggled to recruit from outside the club, the Raiders have shown faith in retaining their players this year, particularly emerging juniors. Vaughan joins Jarrod Croker, Shaun Fensom, Joel Edwards, Edrick Lee, Josh McCrone, Dane Tilse, Jack Wighton, Shannon Boyd, Brenko Lee and Jordan Rapana on a list of players to re-sign with Canberra this season.

Vaughan had struggled to get his opportunity in the NRL. He suffered a horrific broken leg as an 18-year-old, with fears it could have ruined any chances of an NRL career.

"When I was 18 I broke my leg, my tibia and fibula. It set me back a couple of years and I really had to prove myself after that," Vaughan said.

"It was a pretty bad break. It was a bit of a hurdle I had to overcome, but it happened a long time ago ... there was a fair bit of doubt there, but at the end of the day I knew if I worked hard enough and had the right attitude I'd be here today.

"We can be a force in the next couple of years ... we've just got to get out there and prove that."