The game this weekend between the Raiders and Broncos at GIO will add to the history between these two sides. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
In the 1990s, the Raiders and the Broncos played out some of the greatest games in the history of the code.
End-to-end attack featuring the likes of Raiders legends Meninga, Daley, Stuart, and Clyde up against Lewis, Langer, Renouf, Lockyer … the list goes on.
Games between these two clubs were played with Origin intensity.
There was, of course, plenty of history created in a short period of time.
Prior to the Broncos joining the competition in 1988, Queensland was a fertile recruiting ground for the Raiders.
The 1989 Raiders premiership team featured no less than six players lured to Canberra in the absence of a Queensland side in the then NSWRL premiership.
Meninga, Belcher, Steve and Kevin Walters, Jackson and Coyne all ventured south seeking an opportunity.
The Broncos’ entry into the competition completely altered the recruiting landscape, with the tables turned somewhat, with Raiders coach Wayne Bennett returning to coach the Broncos in their inaugural season.
I would suggest the recruitment of Glenn Lazarus from the Raiders to the Broncos was equal in importance to the signing of Bennett.
Lazarus, a two-time premiership winner with the Raiders, played in an extraordinary five grand finals in a row, three with the Raiders before winning premierships with the Broncos in 1992 and 1993.
Broncos coach Michael Maguire, a former Raiders player, was Stuart’s assistant a couple of years ago and would be well aware of the Canberra mindset when it comes to games between the two clubs.
The history between the two clubs contributes to the interest generated every time they meet.
Sunday’s game has the potential to be right up there with classics from the ’90s.
The Broncos head into the game with plenty of momentum on the back of four wins in a row, including the 30-14 victory over the Melbourne Storm.
If the Raiders are to win, they will need to stop Payne Haas off-loading as they did in Round 2, when they had a victory against the Broncos, 32-22, at Canberra Stadium. The Raiders did it on that day without Joe Tapine.
Reece Walsh had an indifferent day in that loss, but his form against the Storm indicates that he has worked hard to eradicate errors that have, at times, overshadowed his contribution in attack.
Stopping and frustrating Walsh could be the key if Canberra is to come out on top, as we saw last season when Walsh was given too much latitude by the Raiders’ defence.
The Raiders, on the other hand, head into the game following what amounted to a bye for the majority of the players, with 11 rested from Sunday’s 52-24 loss to the Dolphins.
Ricky Stuart will, no doubt, be working hard this week to ensure there is no post-bye lag.
The Broncos will be aiming to put pressure on Ethan Strange, but he has shown remarkable maturity this season, overcoming whatever is thrown at him; the game against the Wests Tigers demonstrated this.
Ethan Strange attempting to break through the Tigers defence in January 2025. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Then there is the attacking brilliance of Kaeo Weekes, who has emerged as the Raiders’ answer to the likes of Walsh.
As a peripheral issue, Stuart will be looking to harness the community support for the team, which has returned to levels not seen since the 1990s.
The Raiders take on the Broncos on Sunday, 14 September, at GIO Stadium. Get your tickets from Ticketek.
