Canberra playmaker Terry Campese is unbackable favourite to be named as the new Raiders captain, but the club's trials will determine if he does the job solo.
Raiders coach David Furner has withheld naming a new skipper until after Canberra's two trial matches, against Melbourne this Saturday and the Bulldogs on February 18.
While Campese is the logical successor to retired skipper Alan Tongue, The Canberra Times understands the Raiders are also wary of burdening him with too much responsibility given he is also coming back from back-to-back long-term injuries.
Prior to his injury setbacks, Campese had regularly captained the Raiders in Tongue's absence.
Furner has denied that any player is assured of the Raiders captaincy and he did not rule out multiple skippers.
''Campo's a tremendous leader and I've said to him to just get through those trials, that's what he has to concentrate on,'' Furner said.
''I'm assessing these two trials. It's one thing to have opposed [sessions] and training, but it's another in terms of who's our best leaders in the heat of battle. We have some very good leaders, it's just about picking the right one, or right two.''
While there is a real possibility Furner will appoint co-captains, Raiders prop David Shillington said Campese had the backing of the playing group to assume the role, despite his lengthy absence from the NRL.
Shillington was co-captain with second-rower Bronson Harrison for a handful of games last year, when Tongue and Campese were both sidelined by injury. If Furner opts for co-captains, Shillington and fellow prop Brett White are among the leading contenders to share the role alongside Campese.
''I think anyone in the CPR [club player representative] group would be capable of it, but I'd have to imagine Campo will be captain and we'd all give him our full support,'' Shillington said. ''It's a matter of him getting his injuries right and, if he gets through the trials fine, I'd back him in to be captain.
''It's a possibility [they'll opt for co-captains], a lot of clubs are doing that, and sometimes I think that's good if there's no real standout leader.''
Regardless of who is appointed captain, the Raiders have signalled their intention to continue developing a broad leadership base.
As part of its comprehensive end-of-season review, Canberra identified leadership as a key area that needed improvement.
The club's leadership group, comprising Campese, Shillington, White, Harrison, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Dane Tilse, has been meeting regularly with a newly appointed leadership coach.
Sam Patterson, of the Life Coaching Academy, has worked with Olympic athletes and is providing guidance to the Raiders playing group.
''It's about the players determining what may be restricting them getting the best out of your performance, not only on the field but off the field,'' Furner said. ''Every second week Sam meets with the leadership group and there's been good feedback on how we can all run things a bit better.
''We've also invited the players bordering on that leadership role like Shaun Fensom, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson and Josh McCrone to come to a meeting, and bridge the gap between the senior and younger players.''
Shillington admitted the extended absences of Campese and Tongue hurt the side last season. He said Patterson's input would be beneficial in filling that leadership void.
''Last year showed we're in desperate need of a fair bit of leadership,'' Shillington said. ''It was most of the CPR guys' first time being in a leadership group, although Whitey did a bit in Melbourne.
''I guess we weren't ready for the responsibility that we held.''
This reporter is on Twitter: @tuxy81
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