Official Hohepa Puru

[Matty C of the Shire]

While in more signing news, utility Hohepa Puru, twin brother of talented half/five-eighth Niwhai, joins the Sharks' full time NRL squad for the 2025 season.

With the ability to play lock, hooker or in the halves, the 22-year-old Hohepa played alongside his brother in the Panthers' premiership-winning Jersey Flegg Cup team of 2022, earning man-of-the-match honours in the competition decider.

Puru transferred to the Raiders in 2023, performing strongly in the NSW Cup before making his NRL debut in round 27 of that season, ironically in a match against the Sharks. He would go on to also play a finals series match for Canberra in 2023.

In 2024 he captained the Raiders NSW Cup team which was knocked out in the preliminary final by brother Niwhai's Newtown Jets one game before the Grand Final.

 

[SF]

I know in the past we have generally waited for NRL debuts for threads, but seeing he is in the full-time NRL squad, I think he's close enough for his own thread (so moved the previous post here). Happy to have a thread for anyone likely to play NRL...

 

[SF]

 

[Blue_Eyes84]

Welcome!

 

[SF]

I wonder if this leaves Blake Hosking on the outer... hopefully he still gets another chance at Newtown next year.

 

[Jaz]

Really rate him. Could be our long-term 13, assuming JC goes to the front row.

 

[Milkshark]

Lock, hooker and in the halves….

Interesting

 

[Sutty]

Great signing.

 

[The Punisher]

Canberra fans not happy about losing him.
They wanted him at #13 this season

Could even be a bench option to spell McIness this yr

 

[Sutty]

Yeah, it was smart of him to leave them as well. Sticky would never pick him.

 

[Tiger Shark]

I wonder if this leaves Blake Hosking on the outer... hopefully he still gets another chance at Newtown next year.

Good question, I thought he went well this year but he was more solid rather than excellent

 

[Tiger Shark]

Really rate him. Could be our long-term 13, assuming JC goes to the front row.

I think McCullogh could be it but he might be more of a prop in the long run

 

[puma1355]

welcome aboard - good signing

 

[Flanno]

Seems like an astute signing

 

[SF]

Interesting that him and Oregon have the same management (Nitro Talent).

 

[bort]

Lock, hooker and in the halves….

Interesting

Played 4 games of Cup at hooker and just one at 5/8.
39 at lock.
(+2 at second row and 10 off bench)

He’s much more a lock than anything - was lock when they won Flegg
Niwhai was 6
Ison set up the Isaiya Katoa game winning field goal with his run and Brad Fearnley and Max Bradbury were opposing props - reckon Fitz must have watched this game!

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

This could lead to moving on a prop, though he could be a replacement for Williams

 

[bort]

This could lead to moving on a prop, though he could be a replacement for Williams

Imagine he’s a budget squad filler
Appeal of returning to play with his bro likely kept us from needing to pay any extra to get him to relocate

I assume Williams out moves Takakai and JC up 13 depth chart and Hohepa comes in underneath them

 

[Tiger Shark]

Imagine he’s a budget squad filler
Appeal of returning to play with his bro likely kept us from needing to pay any extra to get him to relocate

I assume Williams out moves Takakai and JC up 13 depth chart and Hohepa comes in underneath them

Agree

It makes you think this signing might be us creating some utility cover if Atko leaves ?
Though he probably is more of lock/hooker cover than halves/backs

Jets team is going to be stacked this year. Back to back !

 

[SF]

Raiders pronunciations 2023

The Canberra Raiders 2023 NRL squad provides the correct way to pronounce their names.

www.raiders.com.au

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