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Canberra Raider re-sign four players including match-winning hero

(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Match-winning hero James Schiller is one of four Canberra players to re-sign in the wake of their famous NRL win in Melbourne on Sunday.

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Along with hooker Zac Woolford and young forward Ata Mariota, Schiller has added two years to deal to remain with the side until the end of 2024, while veteran half Matt Frawley has extended until the end of 2023.

Schiller, a 21-year-old who only joined the Raiders ahead of this NRL season on a train-and-trial contract, says sticking around longer at his local club is a no-brainer.

“Canberra’s home for me, it was a pretty easy decision when they sent an offer through so I’m glad to be staying here,” he told reporters.

“You wouldn’t expect this coming into a team on a train-and-trial, I wasn’t thinking I’d be anywhere near where I am in November last year.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and hopefully I can continue with my form throughout the rest of the year.”

Of his spectacular winning try against the Storm that saw him grubber to himself and regather the ball to score after skipping around the corner post, Schiller urged his mates to stop sending him video of the heroics.

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“A lot of people have sent it to me as if I wasn’t there,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s something I can add to a highlight reel now and remember forever, but I want to also move on, there’s a lot more to produce.

“Not a lot was going through my head, I just had to wing it … I just acted off of instinct and thankfully it was the right act.”

The only thing tarnishing his dream week was an ankle injury suffered scoring the try that will rule him out of Saturday’s clash with the NZ Warriors.

Woolford has been a mainstay at No.9 for the Raiders since his debut in round 10, while Frawley has deputised in the halves seven times this season.

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Mariota, 21, is yet to make his NRL debut.

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Nickers 30 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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