David Polkinghorne

David Polkinghorne is a sports journalist at The Canberra Times, covering the Canberra Raiders, the Canberra Cavalry, cycling and racing alongside general ACT sport. His work is also syndicated to other Australian Community Media titles including the Illawarra Mercury and Newcastle Herald. Polkinghorne has been first to reach Cap Dramas with eleven contract stories this season, and has carried 22 in all. The latest, on 2 September: Canberra Raiders: New contracts and signings shape team's future.

Journalist · The Canberra Times

Against the field

• Scoops: 11 · mid 2 · 93th · 2 of 22
• Early: 0 · mid 0 · 36th · 7 of 22
• Stories carried: 22 · mid 9.5 · 89th · 3 of 22
• Heat: 68.5 · mid 12.9 · 93th · 2 of 22

Sep 2026

2 scoops · 0 early · 0 carried

• 2 Sep — Canberra Raiders: New contracts and signings shape team's future (first) · The Canberra Times · Jordan Uta · Canberra
• 2 Sep — Canberra Raiders: New contracts and signings shape team's future (first) · The Canberra Times · Malachi Smith · Canberra

Aug 2026

9 scoops · 0 early · 11 carried

• 30 Aug — Coby Black leaves Broncos for Raiders (carried) · The Canberra Times · Coby Black · Canberra
• 30 Aug — Sanders becomes November 1 free agent target (carried) · The Canberra Times · Ethan Sanders · Canberra
• 30 Aug — Grant Anderson departs Storm for Warriors (carried) · The Canberra Times · Grant Anderson · Brisbane
• 30 Aug — Canberra Raiders: Tom Starling, Ethan Sanders, Xavier Savage contract updates (first) · The Canberra Times · Tom Starling · Canberra
• 30 Aug — Canberra Raiders: Tom Starling, Ethan Sanders, Xavier Savage contract updates (first) · The Canberra Times · Xavier Savage · Canberra
• 27 Aug — Clydsdale set to leave Raiders for Queensland Cup (first) · The Canberra Times · Jake Clydsdale · Canberra
• 27 Aug — Timoko re-signs with Raiders for 2027 (first) · The Canberra Times · Matthew Timoko · Canberra
• 24 Aug — Preston re-signs with Bulldogs long-term (carried) · The Canberra Times · Jacob Preston · Bulldogs
• 24 Aug — Raiders table two-year offer to Jaiyden Hunt (first) · The Canberra Times · Jaiyden Hunt · Brisbane
• 24 Aug — ‘Money’s not everything’: The contract conundrum facing Panthers (carried) · The Canberra Times · Liam Martin · Penrith
• 24 Aug — Hopoi confirmed departing Bulldogs for Raiders (first) · The Canberra Times · Lipoi Hopoi · Bulldogs
• 20 Aug — Brian To'o to leave Panthers for PNG Chiefs (carried) · The Canberra Times · Brian To'o · Penrith
• 20 Aug — Luai locked in as PNG Chiefs marquee man (carried) · The Canberra Times · Jarome Luai · Wests Tigers
• 20 Aug — Brailey leaves Raiders for Wests Tigers (carried) · The Canberra Times · Jayden Brailey · Canberra
• 20 Aug — Morgan Smithies leaves Raiders for Perth Bears (carried) · The Canberra Times · Morgan Smithies · Canberra
• 11 Aug — Horsburgh leaves Raiders for Perth Bears (carried) · The Canberra Times · Corey Horsburgh · Canberra
• 11 Aug — Raiders table $1.1m offer to keep Hudson Young (carried) · The Canberra Times · Hudson Young · Canberra
• 11 Aug — Knights among clubs facing 2028 re-sign deadline (first) · The Canberra Times · Jermaine McEwen · Newcastle
• 11 Aug — Josh Papalii to retire from Raiders (first) · The Canberra Times · Josh Papalii · Canberra
• 11 Aug — Raiders in talks with Matty Nicholson (first) · The Canberra Times · Matty Nicholson · Canberra