Canberra Raiders set to spend first month of NRL resumption on the road

Post by **greeneyed** » May 7, 2020, 10:04 pm

Canberra Raiders set to spend first month of NRL resumption on the road

It's looking unlikely the Canberra Raiders will be allowed to play home games for the first month, with the NRL set to confine all the games to just two stadiums - Western Sydney Stadium and possibly a stadium in Queensland.

"I've got no doubt this season is going to have the same meaning," Sam Williams said. "There's so much football to be played between now and the grand final day. We're going to play every team. Were going to have to win semi-finals. We're going to have to win grand finals. To me it's as real a season as any.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 7, 2020, 10:12 pm

**** the Broncos.

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BJ · Post by BJ » May 7, 2020, 10:44 pm

Wow Canberra is the safest location in the country and the NRL wants games moved away from here. Crazy.

Lucky Broncos aren’t based in Wuhan.

GMGT · Post by **GMGT** » May 7, 2020, 11:07 pm

Hardly means anything, without a crowd it takes away most of the benefit of home ground advantage.

Lui_Bon · Post by **Lui_Bon** » May 7, 2020, 11:45 pm

I couldn't understand why the Storm didn't just move to the old training facility at Bruce. They had trucks with all their gym gear on them, and it's not like Canberra isn't full of empty gyms with plenty of spare equipment they wouldn't want to earn something off by hiring out... Also two teams to play at the same venue, rather than shifting from Albury Tigers to wherever the hell in Sydney is deemed safe to play.

Besides, the Storm beat all comers at Bruce Stadium...

-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » May 8, 2020, 6:17 am

No big deal for a month or so.

Even without crowds it's good to see Donkeys getting a leg up.

Get out of bed, drive 10 mins to Suncorp, play, go home...repeat..

Bay53 · Post by **Bay53** » May 8, 2020, 6:40 am

Lui_Bon wrote: ↑May 7, 2020, 11:45 pm I couldn't understand why the Storm didn't just move to the old training facility at Bruce. They had trucks with all their gym gear on them, and it's not like Canberra isn't full of empty gyms with plenty of spare equipment they wouldn't want to earn something off by hiring out... Also two teams to play at the same venue, rather than shifting from Albury Tigers to wherever the hell in Sydney is deemed safe to play.

Besides, the Storm beat all comers at Bruce Stadium...

The Storm wanted to be as close to Melbourne in driving distance as they could so they could train 5-6 days per week then return home on weekends.

Bay53 · Post by **Bay53** » May 8, 2020, 6:42 am

Hopefully they are considered away games so that our last 14 games include 9 home and 5 away where hopefully in that time some crowds will be allowed back.

Post by **greeneyed** » May 9, 2020, 8:00 pm

Canberra Raiders to have NRL home away from home

The Green Machine are preparing to be road warriors with last year's NRL grand finalist set to play "home" games in Sydney over the opening month.

"Hopefully we'll get a draw by next week," Raiders CEO Don Furner said. "If we have four games, it will be two home and two away, but they'll be in Sydney and they'll count for our home games as well... the homes will all be in Sydney I think - for the first month anyway."

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

BJ · Post by BJ » May 9, 2020, 10:24 pm

Home games in Sydney. What’s Don been smoking in lockdown?

Timbo · Post by **Timbo** » May 10, 2020, 12:10 am

BJ wrote: ↑May 9, 2020, 10:24 pm Home games in Sydney. What’s Don been smoking in lockdown?

I don't think this is Dons decision to make.

BJ · Post by BJ » May 10, 2020, 8:13 am

Timbo wrote:
BJ wrote: ↑May 9, 2020, 10:24 pm Home games in Sydney. What’s Don been smoking in lockdown?
I don't think this is Dons decision to make.

Ummmm that’s not what I’m joking about?????

GMGT · Post by **GMGT** » May 10, 2020, 9:41 am

Away games in Sydney count as home games?? That's pretty piss poor to be honest.

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 10, 2020, 10:37 am

I think the NRL would have been far better off setting up 4 hubs (with 4 teams) and have those 4 teams playing each other in that hub over three weeks while remaining in that location and then shifting to different hubs. They could have based hub selection on the ability to accommodate staff and players of 4 teams. Townsville has military bases and could pull it off. Canberra has the AIS or RMC and I'm sure there are parts of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, central coast and other regional centres that could manage. It would minimise travel outside of the hubs for 4 week blocks and if an outbreak did occur you have potentially 4 teams that are affected and in a worse case scenario you could isolate those teams while the competition continues.

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Post by **greeneyed** » May 10, 2020, 11:21 am

gergreg wrote: ↑May 10, 2020, 10:37 am I think the NRL would have been far better off setting up 4 hubs (with 4 teams) and have those 4 teams playing each other in that hub over three weeks while remaining in that location and then shifting to different hubs. They could have based hub selection on the ability to accommodate staff and players of 4 teams. Townsville has military bases and could pull it off. Canberra has the AIS or RMC and I'm sure there are parts of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, central coast and other regional centres that could manage. It would minimise travel outside of the hubs for 4 week blocks and if an outbreak did occur you have potentially 4 teams that are affected and in a worse case scenario you could isolate those teams while the competition continues.

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The biosecurity advice was not to do it, because it is less safe. It is like creating little cruise ships or aged care facilities.

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 10, 2020, 11:35 am

greeneyed wrote:
gergreg wrote: ↑May 10, 2020, 10:37 am I think the NRL would have been far better off setting up 4 hubs (with 4 teams) and have those 4 teams playing each other in that hub over three weeks while remaining in that location and then shifting to different hubs. They could have based hub selection on the ability to accommodate staff and players of 4 teams. Townsville has military bases and could pull it off. Canberra has the AIS or RMC and I'm sure there are parts of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, central coast and other regional centres that could manage. It would minimise travel outside of the hubs for 4 week blocks and if an outbreak did occur you have potentially 4 teams that are affected and in a worse case scenario you could isolate those teams while the competition continues.

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The biosecurity advice was not to do it, because it is less safe. It is like creating little cruise ships or aged care facilities.

I'm no biosecurity expert but if you bring 150 people (players and staff) into a facility that is isolated from the rest of the community and all 150 are tested before, during and after wouldn't there be less risk than the alternative?

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Post by **greeneyed** » May 10, 2020, 11:52 am

But if someone gets it (inaccurate test or whatever) you’ve instantly taken out four teams. Because they’re on top of each other constantly. It’s not sustainable either, taking players away from families for the season.

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 10, 2020, 3:19 pm

I don't think a cruise ship is a fair comparison at all. You have a thousand people from all over the world jumping into a confined situation (with no testing) and then jumping on and off at any number of ports.

In my scenario there would be much greater control over the players movements. Every three weeks the NRL could evaluate the situation and adapt as necessary.

My preference would be for there to actually be no home team, so the Raiders wouldn't actually play games in Canberra - they would spend 3 weeks in Brisbane, then Sydney.

You watch how this unfolds. Talk already of games being played in western Sydney and a Qld location. It will be Parramatta stadium and Suncorp. Two teams with pretty good home ground records will effectively have 15 home games this season and 5 away.

If history has taught us anything, you (GE) will be ropeable at seasons end when the Raiders have had 5 home games compared to other sides with 15.

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-TW- · Post by **-TW-** » May 10, 2020, 3:26 pm

There's basically zero advantage though

They're FIFO matches

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-PJ- · Post by **-PJ-** » May 10, 2020, 3:38 pm

Who cares where we play initially.

No crowds is a massive advantage to all "travelling" teams.

Let's get it on !!!

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 10, 2020, 4:48 pm

There is no advantage to a team playing at home for two months while the opposing team has to jump on a plane and fly 1,000 kms? You blokes aren't serious are you?

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edwahu · Post by **edwahu** » May 11, 2020, 7:19 am

I can't get the image to display but the SMH is reporting we will play Roosters, Warriors, Knights, Dragons and Dogs twice. Looks a pretty good draw.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-yo ... 54rkb.html

The NRL also apparently had to force Nine to broadcast the grand final replay.

Post by **greeneyed** » May 11, 2020, 8:37 am

ARLC to decide soon on whether teams can play at home grounds, but smaller Sydney venues expected for first six to eight weeks of a resumed season

The ARLC is expected to make a decision on whether teams can play at their usual home grounds after a broadcast deal has been finalised. The NRL is leaning towards smaller venues including Western Sydney Stadium, Leichhardt Oval and Kogarah Jubilee Stadium to host games in the first six to eight weeks.

Non-Sydney team are hopeful they will be able to play at their home grounds. The Warriors are expected to host games at Gosford’s Central Coast Stadium but Newcastle’s home ground Hunter Stadium is also an option.

Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... e5d4ed5b7e

Post by **greeneyed** » May 11, 2020, 12:57 pm

Who will the Canberra Raiders play twice in the 2020 season?

There are 14 NRL fixtures that look set to take place twice in a significantly reduced NRL season in 2020, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Broadcasters and the NRL will sit down over the coming weeks to finalise a fixture ahead of the season restart. And it looks like the Canberra Raiders will get two chances to exact Grand Final revenge on the Roosters.

Raiders – Bulldogs, Knights, Warriors, Roosters, Dragons

Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-yo ... 54rkb.html

https://www.zerotackle.com/who-your-nrl ... 020-54960/

simo · Post by **simo** » May 11, 2020, 1:16 pm

greeneyed wrote: ↑May 11, 2020, 12:57 pm Who will the Canberra Raiders play twice in the 2020 season?

There are 14 NRL fixtures that look set to take place twice in a significantly reduced NRL season in 2020, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Broadcasters and the NRL will sit down over the coming weeks to finalise a fixture ahead of the season restart. And it looks like the Canberra Raiders will get two chances to exact Grand Final revenge on the Roosters.

Raiders – Bulldogs, Knights, Warriors, Roosters, Dragons

Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-yo ... 54rkb.html

https://www.zerotackle.com/who-your-nrl ... 020-54960/

i thought our strongest "rivalry" was against the titans? at least, this is what the nrl and broadcasters have previously lead us to believe?

gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » May 11, 2020, 1:21 pm

I dunno, pretty sure it’s Ben Cummins...

How many times will we get that goose? Probably have 5 rivalry rounds with him this year... on second thoughts I bet it’s 6 again.

Post by **greeneyed** » May 11, 2020, 1:31 pm

Under the current broadcast arrangement, Channel Nine gets 65 picks (30 placed) of the 192 game season - selections that were made last August in preparation for the 2020 draw. That is expected to be reduced proportionally to the length of season. The NRL also picks 10 free-to-air games, while Fox Sports gets to provide its preferred time slot for certain games.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/who-yo ... 54rkb.html

I am SHOCKED by this. The NRL told us that THEY controlled the draw under the most recent broadcasting deal. Turns out it was another plain old lie to the fans.

gangrenous · Post by **gangrenous** » May 11, 2020, 1:41 pm

The draw is impacted by clowns who don’t even want to televise a grand final rematch? Awesome.

gerg · Post by **gerg** » May 11, 2020, 6:40 pm

I guess the draw will be released in the next day or two, if the leaks are starting.

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Post by **greeneyed** » May 11, 2020, 6:59 pm

gergreg wrote: ↑May 11, 2020, 6:40 pm I guess the draw will be released in the next day or two, if the leaks are starting.

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They’re saying not until after the broadcast deal is settled, which might be Friday. At the rate we’re going we might have the draw only a week out from the first game.

Brew · Post by **Brew** » May 11, 2020, 7:24 pm

What are everyones realistic expectations that we will get to go to the footy in 2020?

And how will it look?

Just want to know what everyone is thinking.

The drives from Sydney to Canberra I miss the most, June/July games in Canberra I just love it, freezing cold. Miss it so much.

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Post by **greeneyed** » May 11, 2020, 7:25 pm

I don’t think we will be going to footy in 2020.

simo · Post by **simo** » May 11, 2020, 8:47 pm

greeneyed wrote: ↑May 11, 2020, 7:25 pm I don’t think we will be going to footy in 2020.

No need to Nickman. Have some hope

BJ · Post by BJ » May 11, 2020, 10:51 pm

greeneyed wrote:I don’t think we will be going to footy in 2020.

I’m working on my disguise as an empty seat at a sports stadium. No one will know that I’m there at all.

Coastalraider · Post by **Coastalraider** » May 12, 2020, 4:34 am

BJ wrote: ↑May 11, 2020, 10:51 pm
greeneyed wrote:I don’t think we will be going to footy in 2020.
I’m working on my disguise as an empty seat at a sports stadium. No one will know that I’m there at all.

You should try and get in touch with a Roosters fan, they have those disguises nailed.