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<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">ByÂ <b>Jasper Bruce</b>Â 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>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>
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