It was a wrist that sprung into NRL prominence following his long-range try against the New Zealand Warriors.

The Canberra Raiders winger pointed to the name Rosi. The name of his favourite niece back home in Navidamu on the Fijian island of Vanua Levu.

Valemei's one of the few constants in a largely changed Raiders backline to take on the Sharks at Kogarah on Saturday, where Nick Cotric is the senior play and has 81 games more experience than the other four combined.

Fullback Adam Cook is making his debut, Matt Timoko and Harley Smith Shields have played one game each and Valemei has played six.

Valemei's coming off a breakout performance, scoring two tries in the win over the Warriors last weekend - taking his career tally to four.

For the first of those he swooped on a loose ball and raced 90 metres to score an important, undermanned try.

His second went from showing his pace and willpower to his sheer power - stepping in off the left wing to bash through a couple of defenders.

The 21-year-old finished the game on the sidelines, having come off for a head injury assessment and had to have stitches above his eyebrow.

"That was my niece. She's my favourite so I write her name there every game," Valemei said.

"She's back in Fiji, back in the village. I think so [she would be watching back home]. Everywhere I go she comes with me."

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Raiders second-rower Elliott Whitehead felt we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Valemei.

He felt all the building blocks were there to continue the tradition of top Fijian wingers in Canberra started by Noa Nadruku.

"He's been outstanding for us. He's very inexperienced - he's played [six] games - but he's been outstanding for us," Whitehead said.

"He carries the ball in yardage and he can find the tryline as well.

"He's just going to get better and better the more he learns about the game and the speed of the game.

"All credit to him. I didn't think he'd have the legs for the first [try], but he found his way there. He's been outstanding. He's a great kid, he's humble, he trains hard."

NRL ROUND 20

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Kogarah Oval, 5.30pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Adam Cook 2. Semi Valemei 3. Matt Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Sam Williams (C) 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Tom Starling 10. Sia Soliola 11. Hudson Young 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Siliva Havili. Interchange: 14. Kai O'Donnell 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Darby Medlyn 17. Jarrett Subloo. Reserves: 18. Ata Mariota 19. Joe Tapine 20. Jack Wighton 21. Elliott Whitehead.

Sharks squad: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Wade Graham 7. Connor Tracey 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Toby Rudolf. Interchange: 14. Scott Sorensen 15. Jack Williams 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Teig Wilton. Reserves: 8. Billy Magoulias 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Bryson Goodwin 21. Daniel Vasquez.