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They're building one of the NRL's best young rosters and the Canberra Raiders will step up contract talks to lock up their key players long-term over the next few weeks.
The Raiders have vowed to upgrade and extend a number of players to keep them from the clutches of rivals and achieve their goal of sustained success.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart declined to discuss contracts publicly, but Fairfax Media understands Jack Wighton (off contract end of 2016), Josh Papalii (2016), Blake Austin (2017) and Shannon Boyd (2017) are among the priorities.
Five-eighth Austin has been in outstanding form since he shifted from Wests Tigers seeking a chance to lock down one position, while young prop Boyd is regarded as a potential representative player.
Wighton and Papalii have just one year left on their deals, but the club is quietly confident both will re-commit.
Papalii declared in January he "wants to be a Raider for life", while Wighton credited Stuart's arrival as the major reason behind his re-signing until the end of 2016.
Wighton has been a revelation since shifting from centre to fullback this year and the club is aware the longer he remains unsigned, the stronger outside interest will become.
Last month, Stuart gave a clear indication of the importance he places on keeping Wighton.
"I wouldn't swap Jack for any other player in the comp," he said.
"I've said that publicly, I don't say that to embarrass him, but that's what I think of him."
Asked mid last month if he'd thought about extending, Wighton said: "I've talked a little bit about it to my manager, we're just going to roll with the punches and see where things take us.
"He [Stuart] was the reason I decided to stay at the Raiders. I love the club, they've been great to me over the years.
"They've given me my first opportunity and I'm very thankful for that."
Canberra has one of the youngest squads in the NRL, but it also has the potential to develop into a heavyweight side if the players stay together.
Stuart is aware of this and said the club is working hard to ensure that eventuates.
"We've discussed three or four players we're going to look at in regards to upgrading and extending and re-sign them for the future," he said.
"It's part of the plan to keep these young blokes together for a number of years.
"We're sowing the seeds with these young guys in terms of gaining valuable experience for our future.
"I don't comment on recruitment publicly in regards to the individuals, but you'll see in the near future who these signings are over the next two or three months.
"If we feel we have a player who should be on a bit more money, we'll genuinely work to help that player."
The Raiders are in a strong position to increase the contracts of their proven young players with highly paid players Terry Campese, Brett White, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Dane Tilse, David Shillington, Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson moved on the past few seasons.
The club is continuing its search for another front rower, but still don't have the salary cap to accommodate NSW star James Tamou, even if North Queensland granted him a release.
Meanwhile, Stuart is confident winger Jordan Rapana (sprained ankle) will recover in time for Friday's crucial home clash with Newcastle.
Rapana's availability would be timely given Knights mid-season signing Joey Leilua, who made his Raiders debut in last week's loss to the Warriors, is ineligible to play due to a clause in his contract.
Stuart said Leilua will train hard to compensate for his lack of matches, and doesn't intend to send him to Mounties to play NSW Cup.