Charlie Gubb will play for Canberra in 2018 after five seasons at the Warriors.

A tough encounter against the Canberra Raiders sowed the seed for Charlie Gubb to join the Green Machine.

Now the 27-year-old former New Zealand Warrior wants to establish himself in Ricky Stuart's 17.

Gubb played 40 NRL games for the Warriors across five seasons, but the rugby union junior was looking for a fresh start.

Now his sights are set on being in the Canberra side for their round one clash against the Gold Coast Titans on the Gold Coast in four months' time.

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With Dave Taylor and Clay Priest having left and the retirement of Jeff Lima, the door's open for Gubb to establish himself in the NRL.

"I want to focus on having a good year myself and I just want to crack into Ricky's 17, that's my goal - to be playing every week. I'll just do whatever job I need to do for the team," Gubb said on Wednesday.

"I know all the players, whether they're reserve grade or NRL, they've got a lot of good forwards here at Canberra and that's what they're known for so it is a bit of a challenge coming here.

"But that's my goal, I'm here to play NRL and if I'm playing my best and I'm not in the team so be it. I just want to give myself a shot."

The chance to work at an Australian club was an attraction to come across the ditch, as was the chance to work with the Raiders big boppers.

He's started pre-season working alongside Shannon Boyd, with Junior Paulo, Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Elliott Whitehead all set to return after World Cup duties.

Gubb felt his style of play would suit the Raiders.

"They've probably got one of the biggest forward packs in the comp and they're all established front rowers," he said.

"They've got international standard back rowers and that's no disrespect to the Warriors - they've got a really good forward pack too.

"But coming over here I feel like my game will suit playing with those big boys."

He pointed back to when he played the Green Machine in April, when the Raiders came from 8-6 down at half-time to run over the top of the Warriors.

While they went on to miss out on the eight, he took away an impression from that game that played a role in moving to Canberra.

"I remember playing them early in the year and they were probably our toughest game," Gubb said.

"We had all the ball in the first half and I think we were up by two at half-time and then the second half they just came and finished over the top of us even though they were on the back foot the whole game.

"After playing them I thought what a tough side they are and obviously a little bit underperformed, didn't make the eight, but if all things go to plan I think they'll give it a good crack this year."