Canberra Raiders

Canberra Raiders
	File:Canberraraiders.jpg
	File:Viking
Club information
Full name	Canberra Raiders Rugby League Club
Colours	Green, white, yellow and blue
Founded	1982
Current details
Ground(s)	Canberra Stadium (25,000);
CEO	Simon Hawkins
Coach	Matthew Elliott
Captain	Clinton Schifcofske
Competition	National Rugby League
2005	14th of 15
Records
Premierships	3 - 1989, 1990, 1994 (NSWRL)
Wooden spoons	1 - 1982

The Canberra Raiders are a National Rugby League team based in Canberra, Australia.

The Raiders were admitted to the NSWRL (New South Wales Rugby League) competition 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 team, 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 (1982-1989), and currently Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Canberra (1990-).

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.

One of the biggest problems that the Raiders have had to contend with in recent times is the popularity of the Super 14 team, the ACT Brumbies. The Brumbies have had massive success on the field in recent times, compared to the Raiders modest results, and Canberra not being the hometown for many of its residents (a large portion of Canberra's population are beaurocrats and public servants) the football team and code who are having the most success on the field usually get the most fans to the games. As a result, whilst the Brumbies average around 21,000 to their games over the past four years, the Raiders average just over 11,500. However, traditionally Raiders crowds pick up at the conclusion of the Super 14 season in May.

The Raiders have also struggled in recent times in recruiting big named players away from Sydney and Brisbane. The cold Canberra winters and relatively sleepy nightlife has meant that the bulk of Canberra's playing roster has come from country NSW and QLD, and from New Zealand. Canberra is the only club to have failed to sign any current representative players in the last half decade.

It is hoped by many that the exciting new crop of youngsters on the Raiders roster will help to pull back in the tide of Canberrans' preferring to attend Brumbies games, and negate the poor recruiting that the Raiders have done in the past 5 years.

History

1982-86

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.

1987-1995

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 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 embroglio 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.

1996-2006

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 contendors. 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 aging 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 competiton 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, have fought back by Round 20 to be just outside the top eight. Savvy gamblers cant believe they were able to get 120-1 on the Raiders to win the Premiership for most of 2006, with several young Canberrans rumoured to be winning an absolute fortune on the Raiders.

Whatever the result, 2006 will be a transitional year for the Raiders, with Simon Woolford stepping down as captain for Clinton Schifcofske. It is also shaping up to be the last season for the clubs longest serving player, Jason Croker, who will probably retire at seasons end. 2006 also saw the Raiders have players in State of Origin for the first time since 2004 and the first time since 2002 for Queensland, with Adam Mogg playing two games and Clinton Schifcofske one both playing for Queensland. It appears that it may be the last season for captain Clinton Schifcofske, who is looking to play Rugby Union in 2007 for the Queensland Reds. This fact has not been received well by the fans, as other than St.George's Colin Best, the Raiders have lost players amounting to 1000 first grade games in experience for 2007, and haven't replaced any of them.

File:R43231 110996schifcofske.jpg

Raiders 2006 captain, Clinton Schifcofske

Trivia

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.