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Canberra Raiders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Canberra Raiders | |
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| Full name | Canberra Raiders Rugby League Club |
| Nickname(s) | Raiders |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Ground | Canberra Stadium Bruce, Canberra |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| CEO |  Simon Hawkins |
| Coach | Neil Henry |
| League | National Rugby League |
| 2006 | National Rugby League, 7th |
The Canberra Raiders are a National Rugby League team based in Canberra, Australia.
The Raiders were admitted to the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in 1982. They were the second club outside of Sydney to be admitted to the league (a month or two after the Illawarra Steelers) as the league started their first national expansion in 1982.
Their initial team colours were Green and White. They hadn't initially named the team, however the name Raiders was coined by the media in describing the new Canberran side, and was adopted as the formal name.
In 1981, before their admission to the league, the Raiders held a competition for the design of their football jerseys, which saw the original green jersey design, by winning entrant Ms Patricia Taylor.
The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is a Viking. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.
The Raider's home grounds were Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, New South Wales (1982-1989), and currently Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory (1990-present).
Within a few years, the Raiders had signed up a mixture of interstate talent such as players Mal Meninga, Dean Lance, John 'Chicka' Ferguson, Ashley Gilbert and Chris O'Sullivan.
Additionally, the Raiders had signed some young local talent, whom later moved through the ranks to become some of the most talented and respected players in the league, such as Laurie Daley, Glenn Lazarus, Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde.
Howeverm today Canberra is the only club to have failed to sign any current representative players in the last half decade. It is hoped by fans that the exciting new crop of youngsters on the Raiders roster will help to restore the glory years of the club.
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The club's initial seasons were a mixed bag, the expected heavy defeats in the first year ensued (characterised by late game collapses which led to a nickname used by some - the Canberra Faders). In fact no team has conceded more tries in a season than the Raiders did that year. The club's first win, a 12-11 heartstopper v Newtown, came in its 8th match, and 3 more wins followed, most notably against Souths, who were leading the competition at the time.
1983 saw 9 wins, more than doubling 1982's four. Winning away from Seiffert was proving a difficult task, however.
An away win first up in 1984 foreshadowed a much improved season, a positive winning record (13-11) which snagged a playoff for fifth versus Souths. But this game was lost (4-23), and a semifinal berth still beckoned.
1985 saw regression, winning only 8 games (the reserves did manage a Grand Final appearance, though, losing to St. George). But in 1986, although results were again poor, the team now contained several players, such as Mal Meninga, Gary Belcher, Steve Walters, and John Ferguson who would greatly influence the coming decade.
A 9 year period of success (barring 1992) for the Raiders, 5 Grand Finals, 3 Premierships, and arguably one of the greatest clubs sides ever (1994)
In 1987, the team finished third, and thus making the semis for the first time. A loss in their first final versus Easts, didn't dampen the spirits but produced two scintillating efforts, firstly against Souths (46-12), and then up against Easts again, a 32-24 win gained a first ever Grand Final. But they were never in the hunt against Manly (the seasons leading team), and in a lacklustre game went down 8-18. Laurie Daley, Peter Jackson and Glenn Lazarus debuted this year for the Green Machine.
1988 featured free-scoring (over 100 tries in 22 games) and a number of large victories, again netting third place. Alas, a narrow loss against Canterbury in the Major Preliminary semi was followed a uninspired loss against a determined Balmain, and an early exit. Other greats to debut in 1988 were Bradley Clyde and Ricky Stuart.
With 5 rounds to play in 1989 season, Canberra were 7th and in danger of missing the semis. But a hard fought 14-10 win over Easts set in motion 9 consecutive victories which netted the club's first Premiership. In one of the all-time great Grand Finals, after trailing the Balmain Tigers 2-12 at break, and surviving a number of close calls that would've been the death knell, a late John Ferguson try and steely conversion from Mal Meninga sent the game into extra time. After Chris O'Sullivan had edged them ahead, a famous Steve Jackson try sealed a momentous win.
1990 was a stellar year, with all three grades making the Grand Final, only the reserves losing. The first grade side picked up their first Minor Premiership, and a second consecutive title, defeating Penrith in the decider. Brett Mullins makes his debut.
Trouble brewed in 1991 as the club was embroiled in salary cap hardships. Nonetheless, a fourth Grand Final was secured - the third in a row - however, in a game that could have been very well won, they went down in close game to Penrith. Jason Croker commenced his career.
The fallout from the salary cap imbroglio saw several players leave the club, mainly forwards (e.g. Glenn Lazarus, David Barnhill and Nigel Gaffey). An average performance followed, and the finals were missed for the first time since 1986. David Furner, son of former Raiders and Australian coach Don Furner, comes on board.
The Raiders have been on a steady decline since their final premiership in 1994. Despite finishing 3rd in the 'Super League' competition in 1997, the Raiders have rarely looked like genuine finals contenders. The Raiders problems came to a head in the late 1990s, when club legends Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde were forced out in order to accommodate young 'stars' such as Brett Finch, who would ironically leave the Raiders soon after to play under Stuart, now a coach at rival club, the Sydney Roosters.
The Raiders had mixed results in the new millennium, often finishing just inside or just outside the final eight, and usually being bundled out of the finals in the early weeks, However in 2003, a side which was tipped to run last, managed to lead the competition for some 20 weeks and nearly claim the minor premiership. The Raiders then lost narrowly to the Melbourne Storm in the opening finals game, but gained a reprieve and went on to week two of the finals on other results. In one of the closest games in recent history, the Raiders were eclipsed by one point in the preliminary final by the New Zealand Warriors and eliminated from the seasons competition.
Many fans still took heart that this was the start of great things for the Raiders, however, it was not to be. 2004 saw the Raiders finish 8th, and being knocked out in week one of the finals by the Sydney Roosters. It also saw club legends Ruben Wiki and Mark McLinden leaving for other opportunities. Wiki's loss was a bitter pill to swallow for many Raiders fans, he was the heart and soul of the club, and it was later revealed that the New Zealand Warriors, who had also signed Bulldogs champion Steve Price, had breached the salary cap in acquiring the duo.
2005 seemed to be a write off for many fans, as the clubs two major signings-Jason Smith and Matt Adamson, were ageing veterans and considered well past their prime. However, both still proved to be formidable campaigners, and at the round 10 mark, the Raiders were joint competition leaders. But as the season progressed, and injuries took their toll, the Raiders finished second to last, only placing higher than the injury devastated Newcastle Knights on point differential.
The Raiders started Season 2006 heavy favourites to run last, and despite suffering devastating losses to the Knights and the Roosters in early rounds, assured themselves of a finals position with still a round left to play. A victory against Melbourne[citation needed] late in the year inspired confidence in the sides upcoming chances.
2006 was also a transitional year for the Raiders, with club stalwarts Simon Woolford and Clinton Schifcofske both deciding to leave the club in the 2007 season. It is also the last season for the club's longest serving player, Jason Croker, who has signed a two year contract with Super League (Europe) club Les Catalans. Outgoing backs Schifcofske and Mogg both earned representative berths with Queensland in State of Origin.
Saturday September 9, 2006 saw Jason Croker, Simon Woolford, Clinton Schifcofske, Michael Hodgson, Jason Smith and Adam Mogg all bid farewell to the club. Their first week finals series clash with the Bulldogs saw them defeated 30-12 in slippery and muddy conditions at Telstra Stadium. As a result of the loss, Canberra was eliminated from the 2006 premiership race.
In 2007, the Raiders are an unknown quantity. Having lost star players such as Schifcofske, Smith, Croker and Woolford in key positions, they will be expecting young, inexperienced players such as Todd Carney, William Zillman and Michael Dobson to step up and take on more prominent roles within the team. The Raiders late season signings were bolstered with experienced campaigners Neville Costigan and Matt Bickerstaff however many think the Raiders have lost more in experience and talent than they have gained. There is confidence in the ranks of the club however, particularly in incoming coach Neil Henry, signed from the North Queensland Cowboys' assistant coach position, where he worked alongside Graham Murray.
- On 29 May 2000, unseasonal snow fell during a match between the Raiders and the Wests Tigers, the only recorded snow-affected match in National Rugby League history.
- On 19 March 2006, the Raiders and the Newcastle Knights were involved in the only match in National Rugby League history where the total number of points scored exceeded 100. Newcastle won the match 70-32.
- David Grant - 1982
- Allan Mcmahon - 1983
- Ron Giteau - 1984-1985
- Dean Lance - 1985-1989
- Mal Meninga - 1989-1994
- Ricky Stuart - 1995-1997
- Laurie Daley - 1998-2000
- Simon Woolford - 2001-2005
- Clinton Schifcofske - 2006
- Alan Tongue - 2007-Present
- Don Furner - 1982-1987
- Wayne Bennett - 1987¹
- Tim Sheens - 1988-1996
- Mal Meninga - 1997-2001
- Matthew Elliott - 2002-2006
- Neil Henry - 2007-
¹ Served as co-coach with Furner
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Season Pos Pld W D L B F A Diff Pts Notes 1982 14th 26 4 0 22 N/A 269 862 -593 8 Wooden Spoon 1983 10th 26 9 0 17 N/A 495 614 -119 18 1984 6th 24 13 0 11 2 379 394 -15 30 Lost in Play Off for 5th 1985 10th 24 8 2 14 2 432 534 -102 22 1986 11th 24 8 1 15 2 391 413 -22 21 1987 3rd 24 15 0 9 2 441 325 116 34 Runners-Up 1988 3rd 22 15 0 7 N/A 596 346 250 30 Lost in Minor Semi 1989 4th 22 14 0 8 N/A 457 287 170 28 Premiers 1990 1st 22 16 1 5 N/A 532 245 287 33 Premiers 1991 4th 22 14 0 8 N/A 452 327 125 28 Runners-Up 1992 12th 22 10 0 12 N/A 435 409 26 20 1993 3rd 22 16 1 5 N/A 287 272 315 33 Lost in Minor Semi 1994 3rd 22 17 0 5 N/A 677 298 379 34 Premiers 1995 2nd 22 20 0 2 N/A 634 255 379 40 Lost in Preliminary Final 1996 6th 21 13 1 7 N/A 538 384 154 27 Lost in Quarter Final 1997 3rd 18 11 0 7 N/A 436 337 99 22 Lost in Preliminary Final 1998 7th 24 15 0 9 N/A 564 429 135 30 Lost in Minor Semi 1999 9th 24 13 1 10 2 618 439 179 31 2000 4th 26 15 0 11 N/A 506 479 27 30 Lost in Semi Final 2001 11th 26 9 1 16 N/A 600 623 -23 19 2002 8th 24 10 1 13 2 471 641 -170 25 Lost in Qualifying Final 2003 4th 24 16 0 8 2 620 463 157 36 Lost in Semi Final 2004 8th 24 11 0 13 2 554 613 -59 26 Lost in Qualifying Final 2005 14th 24 9 0 15 2 465 606 -141 22 2006 7th 24 13 0 11 2 525 573 -48 30 Lost in Qualifying Final 2007 15th 2 0 0 2 0 22 64 -42 0 After Round 2
- Green= Qualified for finals
- Red= Wooden spoon
- Yellow= Premiers
- Mark Webber - Formula one driver
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