Raiders prop signs new 2-year deal

He may not be regarded as an elite prop of the NRL but he plays a role at the Canberra Raiders, forming a part of their solid forward pack and for Dane Tilse, the Raiders are a team he wanted to remain involved with.

The hulking prop has signed a new 2-year deal with the club and it will run until the end of 2016.

Playing in 179 NRL games to date – 176 of those with the Raiders and the other three with the Newcastle Knights – it was back in 2006 when he made his Raiders debut.

For Tilse, he is excited to remain at the club and having been involved with them for most of his career, he could not see himself leaving.

“I’m really happy to have re-signed with the Raiders, I’ve played pretty much my whole career here so far and I’m really looking forward to another couple of years here,” Tilse said.

“It’s the happiest I’ve been here at the club and it would have been really hard to leave.

“There’s a great bunch of guys here at the moment. We’ve had a reasonable start to the season but I think with some consistent performances we’re in for a really strong year.”

Along with David Shillington – a fellow prop – Tilse is now in the veteran category and with the likes of Shannon Boyd and Paul Vaughan coming through the ranks, he knows it will be his job to help develop them and guide them into the NRL.

“The young guys are doing a really good job for us and I’m hoping my experience can help their development as well,” he said.

“That’s part of your job as a senior player is to help develop the younger players and it’s a challenge I’m keen to take on over the couple of seasons.”

Team-mate Josh Papalii is well aware of the impact that Tilse can have in games and he was quick to point out that re-signing the core group of players is essential.

“Dane is one of the most liked blokes in the club and he’s always there to help you out whenever you need him, on top of that he’s a great player and has been one of our best so far this year,” Papalii said.

“It’s great news that he’s re-signed with the Raiders and great to have a group of guys here playing together for the club in the long term.”