<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338534</docID> <postdate>2025-02-18 13:44:44</postdate> <headline>Canberra Raiders earmark Pattie as long-term hooker</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-338536" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250208110719564622-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1088" height="725" /></p> <caption>Owen Pattie has signed a bumper contract extension with the Canberra Raiders. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Jasper Bruce</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Canberra look to have finally found a long-term hooker in Owen Pattie, who has signed a bumper contract extension with the Raiders.</strong></p> <p>It comes as South Sydney's Tyrone Munro continues his inspirational rise with a new NRL deal, and Newcastle tie down forward Brodie Jones.</p> <p>Pattie shone with two tries for the Raiders in their first NRL trial, a defeat of understrength Penrith, and has now been fast-tracked into first-grade plans.</p> <p>Originally only a development player for 2025, Pattie has been upgraded to the Raiders' top-30 squad and will remain at the club until at least the end of 2028.</p> <p>The 21-year-old is now in the box seat for an NRL debut in 2025, and could be the Raiders' answer to a long-term question as to their best option at hooker.</p> <p>Tom Starling, Zac Woolford and Danny Levi have all started at No.9 since grand finalist Josh Hodgson exited the club at the end of the 2022 season.</p> <p>But Woolford has since left for the Super League, Starling is without a deal beyond 2025, and Levi has reportedly been shopped to rival clubs.</p> <p>Raiders chief executive Don Furner said the club had high hopes for Pattie, the 2024 Jersey Flegg Player of the Year.</p> <p>"We see him as someone who can continue to improve and be part of our squad long-term," Furner said.</p> <p>"He's got a fantastic work ethic and has already shown what a talented player he is in the lower grade competitions."</p> <p>Elsewhere, Munro has signed a new two-year deal, only months after he captured the hearts of the rugby league world by playing in the week of his mother's death.</p> <p>Then 19, the winger scored two tries against Penrith in a performance that showcased his potential and earned him the league's Provan-Summons Medal for embodying the spirit of the game.</p> <p>After injury cruelled his 2024 campaign, Munro has been tipped to start on a wing for the Rabbitohs as they target improvement under Wayne Bennett this season.</p> <p>He said it was a "dream come true" to remain with the club through 2027.</p> <p>"I love this club with all my heart," Munro said.</p> <p>"I want to thank my brothers here at the Rabbitohs for their support for me and my family, especially through some very difficult times. I appreciate them every single day."</p> <p>Newcastle have re-signed local product Jones as their forward pack prepares to lose enforcer Leo Thompson at the end of the season.</p> <p>A fixture of the Knights' bench last year, Jones has signed a one-year deal that keeps him at the Knights through to the end of 2026.</p> </body>