Canberra Raiders debutant Brad Schneider locked in as naturally versatile

Canberra Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland is unsure what position debutant Brad Schneider might end up in - halfback, five-eighth or even lock.

The 20-year-old can even cover hooker for the Green Machine if needed - having played there in the NSW Cup this year.

Schneider's been named on the Raiders bench to make his NRL debut against the Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, having played seven NSW Cup games and scored three tries this season.

He's come in to help solve Canberra coach Ricky Stuart's injury and suspension crisis, which will see seven first-graders and 1157 NRL games of experience watching on from the stands.

Mulholland recruited Schneider from Townsville, where he captained Kirwan State High to the national schoolboys crown, and brought him down ahead of the 2020 NRL season only for the coronavirus to shutdown the NSW Cup and under-20s for the year.

It meant Schneider spent the year in the gym instead.

Mulholland said he deserved his opportunity.

"Level-headed, good kicking game, good citizen, strong in defence. He looks good," Mulholland said.

"I'm not sure he ends up a halfback. He could be a five-eighth, could be a lock - if the game keeps changing like it is he could easily be a lock forward.

"He's a great kid, a good leader. I don't want to typecast him just yet, but you've got to look at ways of getting him in.

"I'm not sure how Rick will use him, maybe use him at nine as well - he's strong in defence."

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Raiders NSW Cup coach Peter Marrapodi backed Schneider to be able to fill whatever role Stuart asked of him.

Schneider's played mostly halfback in the reserves, but Marrapodi said he'd also played hooker as well - highlighting his utility value.

It meant he could not only cover the halves, but starting rake Tom Starling as well.

Plus he can fill the role the suspended Josh Hodgson played in the win over Canterbury as a ball-playing lock.

Marrapodi was confident he could fill in anywhere in the outside backs if required.

"He's a really intelligent footballer that covers a lot of positions," he said.

"His football knowledge is outstanding for a young player. That's probably his strength.

"I think that's why they've taken him up because he covers a whole number of positions.

"He's a footballer. He's not any position, he's a footballer who can play anywhere. He could cover anywhere from the outside backs right into the middle."

NRL ROUND 11

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Semi Valemei, 6. Sam Williams, 7. George Williams, 8. Dunamis Lui, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Ryan Sutton, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Ryan James. Reserves: 18. Matt Timoko, 19. Sia Soliola, 20. Siliva Havili, 21. Harry Rushton.

Storm squad: 1. Nicholas Hynes, 2. George Jennings, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Chris Lewis, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Christian Welch, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Aaron Pene, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 16. Tom Eisenhuth, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Reserves: 18. Aaron Booth, 19. Cooper Johns, 20. Trent Loiero, 21. Dean Ieremia.