Canberra Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin wants to spend the rest of his football career repaying the club for taking a punt on a "bench player struggling to find a spot".

After signing a one-year upgraded contract extension until the end of 2018, Austin is hell-bent on thanking the Raiders for reviving his career, which was in limbo after he was shown the door by Wests Tigers.

His season is likely over a week early after injuring his right shoulder in Monday's 34-18 win over Penrith.

But Austin's outstanding breakout year at five-eighth has established himself as Canberra's go-to man.

He doesn't plan on going anywhere.

"I want to be here for a long time, I've had three clubs [Penrith, Tigers and Canberra] already and I don't want a fourth," he said after the Panthers win.

"The club's done me a favour and I really owe them now. The word 'gamble' has been thrown around a bit, but I didn't see it that way at all. I knew what I was coming here for and I knew we'd have a good team here. It was no gamble on my behalf, it was probably more by the club to see something in a bench player who struggled for a bench position to give me a spot.

"It was a drawn-out process but finally I got here, and I haven't looked back."

Austin's recommitment means the Raiders will boast one of the NRL's most exciting halves partnerships from next year, when Gold Coast recruit Aidan Sezer begins his three-year deal.

With the Austin deal done, the Raiders will turn their focus to locking up the likes of fullback Jack Wighton (2016), Queensland Origin back-rower Josh Papalii (2016), English hooker Josh Hodgson (2016) and young prop Shannon Boyd (2017) over the next few weeks.

Austin is confident Canberra's other key players will join him in committing long-term.

"Those guys will make their decisions but I'm pretty confident they'll want to be a part of what we've got growing here," he said.

"We can feel something good happening here, and I want to be a part of it.  Obviously the injury tonight is not the way I wanted it to end but we'll get through it and see what's up with it [shoulder] tomorrow."

The 24-year-old has been so impressive in his first full season in the No.6 jersey he was touted as a possible NSW State of Origin bolter.

He was crowned this year's best five-eighth by his peers in Rugby League Week's annual players' poll and is regarded by many as the NRL's most-improved player.

His running game, speed and support play should be the perfect foil beside the game management and kicking game of Sezer.

The confidence Stuart has placed in him to replace former skipper Terry Campese as the club's long-term five-eighth convinced him to join Canberra this year.

"Ricky and I have gotten on really well. I've had a couple of clubs now and this is the first time I've had a really positive relationship with the coach," Austin said.

"He's definitely someone I want to work with in the next few years and part of the reason I have decided to re-sign."

Stuart always had belief he had the right man to fill the five-eighth void.

"It's been rewarded from both ends. He's done a great job for us and he's got a long way to go," Stuart said.

"It's great he'll be doing that here with us. He's done enough for this year, he'll probably miss next week [final round against Parramatta]."

The Raiders have traditionally struggled to attract quality recruits but under Stuart, that trend is beginning to turn.

While Austin has been outstanding, scoring 14 tries in 22 games, the form of English hooker Josh Hodgson has been just as critical to Canberra's improvement this year.

Former St Helens and Roosters back-rower Sia Soliola has provided experience and mentoring for one of the NRL's youngest teams, while prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala has provided starch up front.

Raiders boss Don Furner said the club hoped to make more re-signing announcements soon.

"We're at a stage now where we have a really exciting core group of players signed on for at least two more seasons, and we hope to increase that list over the coming weeks," he said.