And the next step along that journey is to coach his own team, taking the reins of the Raiders' NSW Cup side for 2022.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart wanted Carbone to have that experience under his belt to add an extra dimension to his recruitment work.

Having studied a PhD in sports analytics, Carbone worked for Fox Sports before Stuart brought him on board as a statistical analyst in 2016.

But for the past three seasons he's been one of Stuart's assistant coaches working on their attack, as well as helping recruitment boss Peter Mulholland.

Now he'll take charge of the NSW Cup side in the next stage of his development.

"I've been basically assistant with first grade for the last three years, but this will be the first time I have my own team - but not necessarily my first time coaching," Carbone told The Canberra Times.

"[The statistical analysis] was only really a minor role the last couple of years. It was big time the first few years, but that changed pretty dramatically in '19.

"I've been helping [Stuart] do the attack the last three years. This'll be a different challenge entirely - coaching the reserve-grade side - which I'm really, really excited about."

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It's not the usual path into the system, which was largely made up of former NRL players who have shifted into coaching after retiring.

But it means Carbone brings a different perspective to the way he views the game.

His appointment is also part of an holistic approach with the Raiders' coaching set-up.

Mick Crawley's returned to the Green Machine to not only help coach the NRL team's attack, but also take charge of the under-21 Jersey Flegg Cup side.

"I spose I started with a slightly different view to most people who have been professional footy players and that's how they've gotten their start," Carbone said.

"It mostly makes me see the game from more of a strategic point of view as opposed to someone who's been through the system.

"I've worked with quite a few coaches now who had a different point of view that I've taken on and I've just tried to meld what they think with things I've seen work before and come to a conclusion of how footy should be played."

Stuart felt taking charge of his own team would help strengthen Carbone's feel for players.

Mulholland started out coaching at St Gregory's College in Campbelltown, before becoming the Western Reds' inaugural coach.

He then made the move into recruitment.

"Joel's a significant part of our recruitment team. He's done a lot of attacking work and analytical work for our team and I just think it's really important for him, as a recruitment manager who is researching young players ... all great recruitment managers have coached their own team," Stuart said.

"You get another feel for the identification of a player that you need."

Carbone was excited by the talent at his disposal and predicted there could be a raft of debutants.

Forwards Trey Mooney and Harry Rushton, young hooker Adrian Trevilyan and exciting outside back Brandon Morkos, who is still eligible for under-19s, were all names Carbone felt were part of the next batch of Canberra Raiders.

He sees his role as ensuring all the NSW Cup players were ready to step into the NRL whenever needed.

"The results will take care of themselves, but if I can get guys playing well in first grade that's the most important thing," Carbone said.

"It wouldn't surprise me if we had more young kids debut this year than we've had in a number of years. We've got some really promising young kids coming through."