Savage stars as Raiders down Roosters

Teenager Xavier Savage has staked an impressive claim to start the NRL season at fullback as Canberra blew away the understrength Sydney Roosters 32-18 in Friday night's trial match at Leichhardt Oval.

Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker played more than half the match in his return from stem-cell knee surgery, bagging the last try and booting four goals, but forward Peter Hola suffered a possible MCL injury.

Former Canterbury back-rower Adam Elliott was solid in his first outing for Canberra, having a stint at dummy-half after Adrian Trevilyan copped a head knock.

There was drama prior to kick-off with Raiders playmaker Sam Williams becoming the first player to miss a match this year through COVID-19, ruled out after a positive rapid antigen test.

Matt Frawley, Williams' roommate on the Sydney trip, was deemed a close contact and also scratched.

Savage, who made three first-grade appearances before a shoulder injury in 2021, scored the opening try after pouncing on a deflection from his grubber kick and produced a brilliant second-half line-break.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart indicated earlier in the pre-season that Savage was jostling with the incumbent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to wear the No.1 jersey for the round-one clash against Cronulla.

"I'm not the biggest bloke out there but I'm not afraid to take those big hits out of yardage and help the big boys out and get as many metres as I can, using my ability and speed," Savage said post-match.

"I just try to back myself as much as possible. I'm getting out of my comfort zone this year."

The smooth-moving 19-year-old was a constant danger while Nicoll-Klokstad, named on the bench but starting at halfback in place of Williams, broke clear to set up a first-half try for Corey