What a season for the Canberra Raiders! Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Whether the Raiders players take too much notice of outside noise and anti-Canberra mentality, it’s hard to tell, but it certainly fires up the supporter base.
Over the years, there has been plenty of ammunition as the Raiders bemoaned the lack of free-to-air television coverage, and requests to play the majority of home games in winter in the afternoon were often brushed aside.
It looked as though another chapter in this fictional book of feuds was about to be written as the club campaigned publicly for a Sunday afternoon time slot for the final against the Broncos at Canberra Stadium.
The campaign appeared two-pronged, with CEO Don Furner on the front foot with the NRL, while Ricky Stuart was publicly calling for the club’s request to be taken on board, given the short turnaround after the Sunday game against the Dolphins.
The Canberra Raiders will be well supported in the game against the Broncos at GIP on Sunday. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
The Broncos, meanwhile, have been afforded the longer recovery time as they played the Storm on Thursday night.
In the opposing corner, the NRL considered the argument from the free-to-air television broadcaster, keen to capitalise on the Broncos as a ratings drawcard in a Saturday night time slot.
The Raiders’ argument was weakened with the decision to rest 11 players in the 62-24 loss to the Dolphins.
But it would appear as though the Raiders are now in a position of power, with the minor premiership proving to be a powerful ally.
The Raiders used this newfound status to great effect, and the NRL acceded to the request for a Sunday afternoon qualifying final against the Broncos at Canberra Stadium.
The next chapter in the book of feuds has been put on hold.
The players are probably oblivious to the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring. Through the season, they appear to have managed to avoid anything beyond the playing field impacting negatively on their performance.
For example, they have managed to harness the scepticism of their premiership credentials from the so-called experts.
They were at it again in the wake of the Raiders’ 62-24 loss to the Dolphins, with the record books used as justification.
No team has won the premiership after leaking 50 points in a regular-season game.
The record books, though, don’t take into account the Raiders’ decision to rest 11 players in the final round.
Joe Tapine has led from the front all season. Photo Jaye Grieshaber.
The Raiders playing group, led by skipper Joe Tapine, has shown time and time again to be very much in their own zone.
They will again need to embrace the community support, which is at an all-time high, if crowds and club membership are anything to go by.
While the so-called experts will again install the Broncos as favourites on the back of four wins, including the 30-14 victory over the Storm, the Raiders players have shown a propensity to back themselves.
Ricky Stuart would have moved on quickly from the Dolphins game, as it has little impact on Sunday’s final.
If there were positives to be derived, it would have been the experience gained by young players against a Dolphins lineup, remembering that the Dolphins just missed out on making the finals.
There was also the performance of the Raiders NSW Cup side, minus the 11 players who were recruited into the first-grade team.
The Raiders Cup side, fielding 11 players from Jersey Flegg, had a 24-20 win over the reigning NSW Cup premiers, Newtown, on the weekend. This was one for the ages, with the Canberra team now facing Parramatta in the second weekend of the finals.
The depleted Raiders Jersey Flegg side went down 16-12 to the Sharks and will now play the Panthers in the second week of the finals.
Success, it would appear, is permeating the entire Raiders organisation.
The Raiders take on the Broncos on Sunday, 14 September, at GIO Stadium. Get your tickets from Ticketek.
