NRL expansion will make recruitment harder for all 16 current teams, but the Canberra Raiders are confident it won't hurt their halfback hunt.
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The NRL spoke to the clubs about their expansion plans on Friday and reassured them they were yet to make a final decision about whether they will introduce a 17th team or not.
There were reports they would announce within the next fortnight they were expanding for the 2023 season, but it's believed the NRL told clubs their review was ongoing and they would consult with the clubs before making a decision.
A new team would add to the Raiders' competition to sign a new halfback following the departure of homesick Englishman George Williams.
There's a dearth of quality No.7s on the market at the moment and the Raiders are taking their time to find the right option.
They've been offered plenty of playmakers, with the latest Gold Coast co-captain Jamal Fogarty.
Fogarty's been linked to the Green Machine, despite having only signed a contract extension to keep him at the Titans until the end of 2023.
The Raiders have also talked about New Zealand Warriors half Chanel Harris-Tavita, although he's also contracted until the end of 2022.
If the NRL announced a 17th team for the 2023 campaign then the new club, with the Redcliffe Dolphins the current favourites, would also be on the hunt for playmakers - throwing another cat amongst Canberra's pigeons.
Raiders chief executive Don Furner was confident they'd have a new halfback signed before a new team entered the race.
"Expansion will make it more competitive for everybody," he said.
"Particularly clubs with a lot of Queenslanders who might decide to return home.
"We'll have someone before then.
"We're not going to panic and we're not going to rush into the wrong signing."
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With vaccination levels hopefully in the high 90s by the time the next NRL season rolls around, things should have started opening up with crowds returning to games in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
Teams from those areas were forced to relocate for the final two months of the regular season due to COVID-enforced lockdowns.
But there could be restrictions on movement of unvaccinated players, with full immunisation likely to be a requirement for interstate and international travel.
While the Warriors will be based in Brisbane next season, they still hope to play some games in Auckland.
Raiders prop Josh Papalii has said he won't get vaccinated on medical grounds, while Joe Tapine's another who will take medical advice on whether he can get the jab.
Furner was confident the NRL would be able to adapt to any obstacles that stand in their way - just like they have done over the past two seasons.
He pointed to the fact that since the pandemic started early last year no players had tested positive to the virus.
"Next year's hopefully going to be a lot less restrictive and a lot less costly than this year," Furner said.
"[The NRL] said we could have some obstacles [in regards to travel] next year, we just have to deal with them like we did this year.
"It could be troubles with New Zealand, it could be issues with Queensland, we just have to - like we have done for two years - comply with the health orders.
"And adapt on the run like we have done - very well mind you.
"There's only two weeks to go, touch wood, we've been two years of competition without any positives because we have had strict protocols."