Canberra have thrown up a round-one NRL selection shock, benching former Dally M five-eighth of the year Blake Austin.

Returning Raider Sam Williams has won the battle for the No.6 spot, relegating Austin, who is out of contract at the end of this season, to the sidelines for Sunday’s clash on the Gold Coast with the Titans.

Williams started in the Raiders’ only trial game against Canterbury, but it was expected the 27-year-old Austin would get first crack at continuing his partnership in the halves with Aidan Sezer.