The Canberra Raiders’ 2025 season was one to remember for fans (even if it did end prematurely). Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Raiders fans will well remember when the battle lines were drawn over the NRL draw in the 2013 season, when Canberra were the least represented of any team on free-to-air television.
The Green Machine had only one game televised on Channel 9 through the first 20 rounds; even the New Zealand Warriors had more home matches televised.
What a difference a minor premiership makes with the Raiders now featuring in nine free-to-air games, including six at home for the 2026 season.
With significantly more people having access to free-to-air than to Fox Sports or Kayo, it is a major win for the Raiders after years of seemingly hitting their heads against a brick wall in their pursuit of greater exposure for the team.
With that battle seemingly won for the time being, the second chapter in the Raiders ‘book of feuds’ relates to the high number of home night games usually allocated to the Raiders in the middle of winter.
Over the years, there have been calls for the NRL hierarchy to sit through a 7:30 Saturday night at Canberra Stadium in June, July and August.
It would appear as though the message is finally registering with the Raiders only allocated two night games; one at the start of winter, when they play the Roosters on 5 June, and the other at the end of winter with the Raiders at home to the Broncos on 21 August. And this would be a long-anticipated game for Canberra fans seeking revenge for the heartbreaking loss to Brisbane this season.
In total, there are 12 home games, including five on Sunday afternoons, two on Saturday afternoons, three on Friday nights, and two Thursday night fixtures. For the first time since 2018, the Raiders will play all 12 home games at Canberra Stadium.
Interestingly, there are no Saturday night home games for the Raiders in 2026.
There are just three Canberra Stadium games in the first nine rounds, with the first two against Manly and the Warriors away from home.
The first home game in Round 3 against the Bulldogs should be a sellout.
The Raiders will play four top-eight teams from the 2025 season twice: the Bulldogs, Sharks, Melbourne and the Panthers.
They will also play Newcastle, Souths, the Wests Tigers and the Cowboys twice.
The Raiders will have the bye during Magic Round, which I view as a blow for Canberra fans keen to be part of the rugby league festival in Brisbane, only to watch every team go around except their own.
Canberra is back in Mudgee to play the Panthers in round 22.
The Raiders NRLW team should look forward to a big season in 2026. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
In the meantime, the Raiders NRL team will play three double-headers with the Canberra NRLW side.
So, for the first time in living memory, from a Raiders fan point of view, apart from the Magic Round snubbing, there is very little to complain about.
For Raiders fans fuelled since 1982 on being outsiders and unloved by the rest of the league, this is a unique position to find ourselves in.
