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 14 contract stories this season, early on one more, and has carried 20 in all. The latest, on 28 October: Will the NRL take into account the Canberra Raiders' Hudson Young offer?.

Journalist · The Canberra Times

Against the field

Scoops: 14 · mid 4.5 · 92th · 2 of 26
Early: 2 · mid 0 · 83th · 3 of 26
Stories carried: 20 · mid 16.5 · 56th · 12 of 26
Heat: 33.4 · mid 14.5 · 71th · 8 of 26

Oct 2026

1 scoop · 1 early · 1 carried

28 Oct — Papalii retires from Raiders (early) · The Canberra Times · Josh Papalii · Canberra
28 Oct — Will the NRL take into account the Canberra Raiders' Hudson Young offer? (first) · The Canberra Times · Morgan Smithies · Canberra
28 Oct — Leota linked with multiple rival clubs (carried) · The Canberra Times · Moses Leota · Penrith

Sep 2026

3 scoops · 0 early · 0 carried

15 Sep — Canberra Raiders: Tom Starling linked with Manly as Mal Meninga Medallists revealed (first) · The Canberra Times · Brandon Wakeham · Manly
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

10 scoops · 0 early · 4 carried

30 Aug — Sanders rules out testing open market (carried) · The Canberra Times · Ethan Sanders · Canberra
30 Aug — Raiders signing tracker: two new players confirmed as nine players set to go to market (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 departs 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 — Jaiyden Hunt leaves Broncos for Raiders (first) · The Canberra Times · Jaiyden Hunt · Brisbane
24 Aug — Hopoi joins Raiders from Bulldogs on two-year deal (first) · The Canberra Times · Lipoi Hopoi · Bulldogs
24 Aug — Smithies leaves Raiders for Perth Bears (carried) · The Canberra Times · Morgan Smithies · Canberra
20 Aug — Brailey leaves Raiders for Wests Tigers (carried) · The Canberra Times · Jayden Brailey · Canberra
11 Aug — Horsburgh confirmed to join Perth Bears (first) · The Canberra Times · Corey Horsburgh · Canberra
11 Aug — Dane Gagai departs Knights for Broncos (first) · The Canberra Times · Dane Gagai · Newcastle
11 Aug — Hudson Young becomes free agent as Raiders pull offer (carried) · The Canberra Times · Hudson Young · Canberra
11 Aug — Josh Papalii retires after farewell Raiders season (first) · The Canberra Times · Josh Papalii · Canberra
11 Aug — Raiders re-sign Matty Nicholson on extension (first) · The Canberra Times · Matty Nicholson · Canberra