Tom Starling in action against the Sharks, round 5, 2025, at Canberra Stadium. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Tom Starling began this season motivated by a desire to prove that he deserved his place in the Raiders’ starting 13.
In his 113 games in the lime green, Starling has bounced between a starter and an interchange player. His impact as an interchange player, playing in the second-half, takes full advantage of a tiring defence.
It has been a tactic that has proven to be incredibly effective, but his form so far in 2025 has seen him become a pivotal player defensively and in attack.
This season he has started in all five games and stayed there, effectively fulfilling an immediate aim of locking in the starting hooker role, with young gun Owen Pattie coming off the bench.
Starling’s statistics in 2025 are impressive.
His average running metres per game (62) and tackle efficiency (93.5 per cent) put him ahead of Melbourne’s Harry Grant and the Bulldogs’ Reed Mahoney, although Grant and Mahoney are ahead in kicking metres and line-break assists.
On stats alone, Starling is having the season of his career, although it needs to be remembered that we’re only five games into the competition.
Tom Starling celebrates with Raiders teammates. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Danny Levi, it would appear, won’t be getting a look-in unless Starling or Pattie are unavailable.
Levi is likely to head elsewhere in 2026.
Starling’s future in Canberra is by no means a certainty with the Raiders signing Newcastle hooker Jayden Brailey for next season, coupled with the emergence of Pattie as a genuine star of the future.
Starling remains unsigned for 2026 as he presses his claims for another contract with the Raiders.
Since 1 November last year, Starling has been free to talk to rival clubs but has constantly expressed a desire to stay in Canberra, with a focus on proving his worth.
His teammates have also expressed hope that something can be sorted out to ensure he stays. Hudson Young said as much in a post-game interview on the ABC after the victory over the Broncos.
With much of the focus on Jamal Fogarty’s future, the hope is that Tom Starling isn’t left behind.
