Canberra target recruits from NZ rugby union

NRL outfit Canberra Raiders have broadened their target range for recruitment, and are actively scouting England and Papua New Guinea now, as well as, significantly, New Zealand rugby union.

Club recruitment manager Peter Mulholland, now a month into his job after joining from St George-Illawarra Dragons, believes that clubs like the Raiders have to cast the net as wide as possible.

“No one realises Jonah Lomu agreed to terms with Canterbury before he became an All Black,” Mulholland said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to look outside the square.

“You fish where the fish are. New Zealand rugby union is a very strong competition and a very strong arm of the game.

“There are only five Super Rugby teams in New Zealand, so straight away you look at where the block holes might be.”