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Well-travelled hooker Danny Levi’s early-season renaissance has been a microcosm of Canberra’s gritty, expectations-defying start to 2024.
Unfancied by many pundits heading into the season despite back-to-back finals appearances, the Raiders followed up a Round 1 upset in Newcastle and a convincing home win over Wests Tigers with arguably their best performance so far in a gutsy 18-10 loss to the Warriors.
While their unorthodox attacking threats propelled victories by 16 and 20-point margins, it’s a renewed defensive steel – particularly apparent against the Warriors – that the Raiders are building their campaign around.
So far it’s a notable contrast for a team that failed to win a game by more than 12 points and finished with a minus-137 points differential in 2023, despite winning more than half of their games.
“It’s something you can’t fault the boys on, the effort areas – they are always putting in on that side of things,” Levi said after the Round 3 defeat in front of a packed house in Christchurch.
“There’s obviously a lot of things we need to fix up – a few too many errors [against the Warriors] – but it’s still early rounds and plenty of time to fix it up.
“What it comes down to is just working hard for each other – and we’ve got such a good group of boys here, they want to work hard for each other.”
Along with the injection of 19-year-old five-eighth Ethan Strange, rugged British forward Morgan Smithies and ex-Penrith back-rower Zac Hosking, Levi’s form has been one of the more eye-catching features of the Raiders’ buoyant beginning to the year.
The 27-year-old made just four top-grade appearances in a wretched first season in Canberra, twice suffering a broken jaw, but has beaten a hot field of contenders to regain the lime green No.9 jersey.
“I was fortunate enough that ‘Sticky’ (coach Ricky Stuart) put trust in me to have the nine at the moment, so it’s my job to hold it – but there’s plenty of competition and all the nines at the club are doing really well.”
In Round 4 Levi is eyeing off four consecutive NRL run-on outings for the first time since his sole season with Manly in 2020.
He’s held off the challenge of Zac Woolford – who started in 36 of his 38 games for the Raiders in 2022-23 – with livewire Tom Starling retaining the interchange dummy-half duties.
Levi scored memorable tries against both the Knights and Tigers in the opening fortnight, while he contributed 29 tackles against the Warriors.
“I’m on the field, so that’s a good thing,” Levi said.
After playing his first five years at Newcastle, one-season stays at Manly and Brisbane followed. Levi ventured to Huddersfield to reinvigorate his career in 2022, before Canberra came calling.
Now in his 10th season in the professional ranks, the stint in England is belatedly proving a springboard to what Levi – who is signed until the end of 2025 – hopes will be a lengthy partnership with Stuart and a tight-knit Raiders squad.
“That was my goal when I went over to Super League, I always made it clear that I wanted to be back in the NRL,” he said.
“Going over there I knew I had to perform and be a standout. I think I managed to achieve that and I was lucky enough to be given a shot here.
“It’s awesome here, the camaraderie and Sticky’s got a massive culture of bringing the boys together. It’s an unreal bunch of boys and I’d like to stay as long as possible.”
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