But his possible axing from the club could open the door for Joel Thompson to make a permanent move into Canberra's back line.
The photograph of Monaghan in an explicit act with a dog sent the club into damage control and overshadowed its membership launch at the Mawson Club.
Monaghan's future could be sealed as early as next week when the board meets to decide what action to take.
And his contract which expires at the end of 2012 is now in serious danger of being torn up.
But unlike previous years where Monaghan was a stand out in the Raiders' back line, younger players including Thompson have emerged as future stars.
And after missing the last 11 games of the Raiders 2010 season with a groin injury, Thompson said he wanted to keep his place as one of the Raiders' centres.
Thompson started his career as a second-rower, but became one of Canberra's most potent attacking weapons when he made an early-season move to the centres.
''I'm looking to be an outside back [next year],'' Thompson said yesterday.
''Obviously it depends on who we've got available and it just depends what [coach David Furner] wants. But I'm keen to play in the centres. Every game I played there [last season] I was liking it more and more and I got used to the position.''
While Monaghan sweats on a decision on his future, exciting winger Blake Ferguson will join the Raiders for pre-season training next week. Ferguson signed with the Raiders earlier this year to bolster their back line stocks already including Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker, Daniel Vidot and Thompson.
The 22-year-old and new recruit Brett White were upbeat about the 2011 season before the news of Monaghan's photograph started to spread. A pack of waiting media didn't want to know about the club's new television commercial.
For more on this story, including details of the Raiders' membership drive hopes and comments from former Dally M Medal winner Greg Alexander on the possible impact of Monaghan's lewd act on member numbers, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.
Source: The Canberra Times
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