It's been tough being apart, but Joel Monaghan is looking forward to reuniting with his young family.
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He's also looking forward to reuniting with his old Canberra Raiders teammates after he signed for the Queanbeyan Blues.
![Ex-Raider Joel Monaghan will play for the Queanbeyan Blues this season. Picture: Elesa Kurtz Ex-Raider Joel Monaghan will play for the Queanbeyan Blues this season. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc756rholtwhl183ccik2j.jpg/r0_0_4053_2693_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Blues coach and fellow ex-Raider Terry Campese lured Monaghan back to play in Canberra for the first time since he left the Green Machine in 2010 - with his first game against the West Belconnen Warriors at Kippax on Sunday.
Along with Campese, he's also joining Glen Buttriss, Jarrad Kennedy, Belconnen coach Scott Logan, Drury Low, Lincoln Withers and Reece Robinson in the Canberra Raiders Cup.
Clearly it's an aptly named competition given Monaghan spent time at the Raiders with them all.
After leaving the Raiders at the end of 2010, Monaghan played for Warrington and Castleford in the English Super League before moving to Melbourne last year.
He's been going back and forth to England ever since, although that's set to change in a month.
"I flew over to England for the birth [of my daughter] in September and then I brought them out here for Christmas," Monaghan said.
"They'll be back in about a month. It's been a bit back and forth ... it's been tough being away from them, but she should be here soon."
Monaghan played a few games for the Albury Thunder last season, but travelling to Canberra is a shorter option - plus he can spend time with his family, who still live in the ACT.
He said he might move back to his home town next year, but has been working for his brother-in-law Ray Chamberlain - the famous AFL umpire.
The 37-year-old said it might be his last chance to play with Campese.
"I'll probably cop a fair bit from the fans, but if I survived England with their fans I think I'll be right here," Monaghan joked.
CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP ROUND FOUR
Saturday: Tuggeranong Bushrangers v Goulburn Bulldogs at Greenway, 3pm; Gungahlin Bulls v Woden Valley Rams at Gungahlin Enclosed, 3pm; Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Yass Magpies at Freebody Oval, 3pm.
Sunday: West Belconnen Warriors v Queanbeyan Blues at Kippax, 3pm.