Levi eyes long-term dream in lime green

The opportunity to chase some job security has NRL journeyman Danny Levi hunting Canberra's No.9 jersey vacated by Josh Hodgson this season. 

Levi arrived at his fifth club in as many years in January with Ricky Stuart quick to give the former New Zealand representative enough game time in the Pre-season Challenge to stake his claims on the starting dummy half role. 

The Raiders have Tom Starling and Zac Woolford on their books but chased Levi, who spent a year in the Super League with Huddersfield before returning 12 months into a two-year agreement. 

After stints at the Knights, Sea Eagles and Broncos previously, the 27-year-old knows its now or never to get back to being a regular first grader.

"My goal was always to get back to the NRL," Levi said.

"I have a two-year deal here so I would love to try and impress the club and make a bit of a name for myself. It’s time for me to step up and be a consistent NRL player."

Levi said his two-year contract at the Raiders offers him and his family some time to settle down in the nation's capital and make the most of his latest NRL opportunity. 

"It’s tough [to keep moving around] but I am very lucky I have a really supportive family. That has always been my concern after moving my daughter and my missus," he said.

“They’ve been rock solid, and are always in my corner and are backing me. Wherever I go they are always going to be backing me. 

"But I would like to lock something down a bit more long-term and get them set up, and let my daughter make some friends she gets to see for more than a year."

Levi would've been part of Samoa's World Cup final match but left the squad midway through the nation's campaign in the UK to attend a family member's funeral. 

He was confident he returns to the NRL a better player than when he left during Brisbane's tumultuous two-year period when they sat at the bottom of the ladder.

"I felt like I belong in the NRL. I just have to have the confidence in myself, and I do," Levi said.

The Raiders will take on North Queensland in their season opener at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday before clashing with the Dolphins in Redcliffe.