40 Years - 40 Moments

Canberra Raiders history

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40 Years - 40 Moments

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40 Years - 40 Moments

Today we kick off our countdown of the 40 greatest and the most defining moments in the history of the Canberra Raiders.

40. Final home match for Croker, Woolford and Schifcofske





The end of 2006 saw the departure of a host of players, not least of all Jason Croker. A total of 1167 games of experience walked out the door. Jason Croker left the Raiders for France, as the most capped Raider ever, with 318 games. Clinton Schifcofske, Simon Woolford - both captains of the club - Adam Mogg, Jason Smith and Michael Hodgson also played their final home game alongside Croker. It was also the final home game for coach Matt Elliott, who had announced at the beginning of the year that he was heading to the Panthers in 2007.

The Melbourne Storm spoiled the party, running out winners 22-18 in front of more than 21,000. The Raiders had two further matches in the season. Finishing in seventh place on the ladder, they lost in Week 1 of the finals to the Bulldogs at Stadium Australia.

Round 25 2006 - Melbourne Storm 22 (Ryan Hoffman, Greg Inglis, Dallas Johnson, Matt King tries; Cameron Smith 3 goals) defeated Canberra Raiders 18 (Alan Tongue 2, Lincoln Withers tries; Clinton Schifcofske 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Clinton Schifcofske (c) 2. Adrian Purtell 3. Phil Graham 4. Adam Mogg 5. Craig Frawley 6. Jason Smith 14. Todd Carney 8. Michael Hodgson 9. Simon Woolford 10. Troy Thompson 11. Kris Kahler 12. Jason Croker 13. Alan Tongue

7. Lincoln Withers 15. Marshall Chalk 16. Dane Tilse 17. Michael Weyman

Coach: Matt Elliott

Crowd: 21,255


Careers of three greats

Jason Croker: Born in Crookwell, Jason Croker is the most capped Raider of all time. He played in just about every position on the field in green. He played most of his games at lock, but he's also played in the second row, at five eighth, in the centres and on the wing. He played in the second row in the 1994 premiership winning team. He held the club record for most tries for a long time - until he was recently overtaken by Jarrod Croker. He also shared the club record for most tries in a season (22) for over 20 years - until Jordan Rapana came along in 2016 (23). He was a good ball player - very good for a forward - and tough as nails. In 2001, he famously played for the entire second half with a torn cruciate ligament in one knee and an ankle ligament strain in his other leg. The Raiders were out of replacements, but they scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to secure an unlikely come from behind win. Croker was unlucky not to make the 1994 Kangaroos Tour, but later represented both Australia and New South Wales. He was given the keys to the city after his last game in Canberra in 2006, and he headed to France, playing 62 with Les Catalans in Super League over three seasons.

Raiders record: 1991-2006, 318 games, 120 tries, one goal, 482 points
108 at lock, 57 at five eighth, 49 in the second row, 48 at centre, 44 on the wing, one at prop, one at fullback, 10 off the bench
One premiership, one grand final, in the second row, 16 finals games, seven in the second row, four at centre, three at lock, two at five eighth
Dally M Lock of the Year 2000
Raiders Player of the Year 2000
Raiders Players' Player 1993, 1999, 2000
Raiders Coaches Award 2004
Raiders Rookie of the Year 1991
Raiders Best Player 1999
Raiders Most Consistent Player 1994
Most games for the club - 318
Second most tries for the club - 120
Seventh most points for the club - 482
Second most tries in a season for the club - 22 in 1994
Twice scored four tries in a game, against Sharks at Cronulla, August 14, 1993 and against Bears at Canberra Stadium, August 7, 1999
Raiders Hall of Fame

Representative record: 2000 Australia, five games, including four World Cup games
1993-2001 New South Wales, five games
1994-2001 NSW Country, three games

Clinton Schifcofske: Clinton Schifcofske joined the Canberra Raiders in 2001, after stints with the South Queensland Crushers and the Parramatta Eels. The goal kicker broke a host of of point scoring records and was known for his footwork, the "Schif Shuffle". His field goals won more than one golden point match. He became the captain in 2006, the only player to lead the club from the back. That year, he won the Dally M Fullback of the Year. He left at the end of 2006, with the departure of coach Matthew Elliott triggering a release clause in his contract.

Raiders record: 2001-2006, 139 games, 44 tries, 432 goals, 12 field goals, 1052 points
139 games at fullback
Five finals matches, all at fullback
Raiders Player of the Year 2001, 2004
Raiders Players' Player 2001
Raiders Coaches Award 2003, 2006
Dally M Fullback of the Year 2006
Equal third for most goals in a match: nine V St George Illawarra, Canberra Stadium, April 2, 2005
Fifth for most points in a match: 23 (2T, 7G, 1FG) V Newcastle, Canberra Stadium, March 19, 2005
Second for most points in a season: 245 (10T, 102G, 1FG), 2001
Also scored 222 points in 2003 (8T, 94G, 2FG)
Third for most points: 1,052 (44T, 432G, 12FG), 2001-2006

Representative record: 2002-2006 Queensland two games
2005 Prime Minister's XIII one game

Simon Woolford: Born in the regional town of Young, Simon Woolford made his NRL debut with the Raiders in Round 11 of 1994. He went on to captain the club and play well over 200 NRL games in green. He headed to the Dragons in 2007, playing a further 28 first grade games over two seasons.

Raiders record: 1994-2006, 234 games, 35 tries, one goal, 142 points
192 games at hooker, three at halfback, two in the second row, 37 off the bench
11 finals games, six at hooker, five on the bench
Raiders Sponsors Award 2001
Fifth for most first grade games - 234

Representative record: 2002 NSW Country, one game
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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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39. Snow game



One of the most fondly remembered matches in Raiders history took place in Round 17 2000 - the only NRL match to be played in a genuine snow storm. It was still only May, not yet winter, but it was relatively late in the season because it had been shifted forward to accommodate the Sydney Olympics. There were 7384 people there, but if you count the number of people who later claimed to be there, it was a crowd of 27384! The snow was at its worst during reserve grade, but it was still snowing when the NRL teams ran out. So much snow had gathered, you could hardly see the line markings. When players slid in for a try, they left a channel of green in the white snow.

At half time, the club allowed anyone sitting in the inner bowl to shift into the grandstand. A free coffee and pie were given away to anyone in the crowd. Raiders half Mark McLinden recounted later how the players staved off hypothermia at the break with hot water and warmed up using hand dryers. It wasn’t the best of games. Eventually, the Raiders out pointed the Wests Tigers 24-22.



Brett Mullins said later: "I remember Wests scored the first try. They put a kick through into our in goal and from memory there were about six of us standing around watching it. They dived on it and I think we all thought, 'Good luck to him'. As you ran around ice would build up under your boots, just hunks of ice. Runners were bringing out hot water because our joints were just going numb."

Laurie Daley - covering at lock on the day - recalled: "I remember Lesley Vainikolo scoring a try and sliding over and they had to pour the warm water down the front of his pants because that was all cold down there. It was very funny."

2000 Round 17: Canberra Raiders 24 (Mark McLinden, Brett Mullins, Sean Rutgerson, Lesley Vainikolo, Greg Wolfgramm tries; Luke Williamson 2 goals) defeated Wests Tigers 22 (Craig Field, Ken McGuinness, Lapland Milford, Tyran Smith tries; Joel Caine 3 goals) at Bruce Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Brett Mullins 2. Greg Wolfgramm 3. Luke Williamson 4. Anthony Swann 5. Leslie Vainikolo 6. Mark McLinden 7. Andrew McFadden 8. Todd Payten 9. Simon Woolford 10. Luke Davico 11. Brandon Costin 12. David Furner 13. Laurie Daley (C)

14. Alan Tongue 15. Ruben Wiki 16. Justin Morgan 17 Sean Rutgerson

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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38. Broncos blitzed



Nothing is better than beating the Broncos, right? Wrong. Beating the Broncos 56-0 is a whole lot better.

In Round 21 2009, the Green Machine lined up against a Brisbane Broncos team that included eight internationals and five Origin representatives at Canberra Stadium. Yet at full time, Canberra had inflicted the biggest ever defeat on the Broncos in Brisbane's history. It was a stunning win for the Raiders, with a young team running circles around the likes of Darren Lockyer. Phil Graham scored four tries and Joel Monaghan two. There were 10 tries in all. Jarrod Croker was man of the match, while halves Terry Campese and Josh McCrone were instrumental. It is still the equal fourth biggest victory in Raiders' history.

The defeat for the Broncos came in the wake of Karmichael Hunt’s ill fated defection to the AFL’s Gold Coast team and it left the tenure of Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak hanging by a thread.

“They don't get much darker than tonight. It was very embarrassing and all we can do is apologise to our fans, our sponsors and our past players – that was just unacceptable,” Henjak - a former Raider - said after the game.

Four try hero for the Raiders, Phil Graham, however, was beaming.

“It was just one of those games where everything worked for us. I don’t know what it was, but all the boys were just on fire tonight. It was just one of those games where everything worked for us and we can just look forward to next week now,” he said.

Winger Graham was full of praise for his young centre partner, Jarrod Croker.

“He played awesome tonight. He gave me a couple of balls where all I had to do was catch them and put them over the line. He’s getting better each week and he’s going to be a very good player when he gets older.”

In another rebuilding season, when the Raiders won just nine matches, it was just the boost the club, and fans, needed.

Round 21 2009 - Canberra Raiders 56 (Phil Graham 4, Joel Monaghan 2, Jarrod Croker, Josh Dugan, Josh McCrone, Daniel Vidot tries; Terry Campese 8 goals) defeated Brisbane 0 at Canberra Stadium
Halftime: Canberra 16-0

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Daniel Vidot 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Phil Graham 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. Dane Tilse 9. Alan Tongue (C) 22. Scott Logan 11. Glen Turner, 10. Bronson Harrison 13. Nigel Plum.

10. Troy Thompson 14. Joel Thompson 15. Travis Waddell 16. Josh Miller

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37. Raiders knock Broncos out of the finals



2010. The final round of the regular season. The Raiders visited Lang Park for a meeting with the Brisbane Broncos. The Broncos had to win by 15 points or more - or they would miss the finals for the first time since 1991. The Raiders, having climbed into eighth on the ladder, needed to win to keep the momentum into the finals. It was semi final football a week early in front of 40,000. There were Raiders fans everywhere, and were packed solid in the supporters bay in the corner.

The Raiders were first to score, with Terry Campese putting in a perfect bomb to the corner in the 18th minute, allowing winger Daniel Vidot to knock the ball back in the in goal and then pounce on it for the try. Just a few minutes later, Campese produced another kick to the same corner - with a try to Josh Dugan the result. The Raiders led 12-0, but the Broncos fought back through an individual try to hooker Andrew McCullough. The teams went to the break with a 12-4 advantage for the Green Machine.

The Raiders seemed destined for a win when Daniel Vidot scored his second try in the 59th minute - pushing the Raiders to an 18-4 lead. But the Broncos came back again in the final stages, scoring two tries in the space of four minutes. However, the Raiders desperately scrambled in defence as the clock ticked down, hanging on for a very sweet 18-16 win.

It was the Raiders eighth victory in the past nine matches, while the Broncos had lost four in a row, crashing out of the finals.

Terry Campese was excited by the victory, but also by the prospect of the arrival of his first child. His wife Sarah, was due to give birth at "any time".

"The best result would be to go back and check my (mobile) phone and see she has gone in (hospital) and I fly back in the morning straight to the doctors," Campese said after the match. "It's an exciting times on both fronts, first kid and semi finals. I can't wait, I'm pretty excited, getting goose bumps just talking about it."

Campese twice knocked down passes on the final play which might have produced match-winning tries for the Broncos.

"We always knew they were going to throw the ball around and they were throwing some off-loads without even looking," said Campese. "[But] we're a much better team than what we showed at the start of the year and I think we're starting to hit our straps. We have to take this confidence into next week and keep the momentum going.

2010 Round 26 Canberra Raiders 18 (D. Vidot 2, J. Dugan tries; J. Croker 3 goals) defeated Brisbane Broncos 16 (M. Gillett, A. McCullough, J. Yow Yeh tries; C. Parker 2 goals) at Lang Park

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Reece Robinson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Michael Monaghan 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Terry Campese (C) 7. Josh McCrone 8. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 9. Glen Buttriss 10. David Shillington 11. Joe Picker 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Shaun Fensom

14. Danny Galea 15. Dane Tilse 16. Scott Logan 17. Travis Waddell

Coach David Furner

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36. Stop it, it’s starting to hurt!

It was a perfect, blue skied afternoon. A clash with the Sharks, Week 1 of the finals. Canberra Stadium was sold out, a sea of green. The Raiders put on a spectacle for the crowd of 24,450, playing breath taking, attacking football. And Josh Papalii was a man on a mission - stop Paul Gallen. The Sharks were the first to score, after six minutes. But then Canberra turned it on.



In the 19th minute, Josh McCrone set up a try for Sandor Earl in the corner. Then just minutes later, Canberra scored a try for the ages. Sam Williams made a break down the left side, before passing to a flying Jarrod Croker. The Sharks circled him, but he was able to put in a kick to the corner for Sandor Earl. It was perfection, falling into the hands of the winger, to score his second try. "Stop it, it's starting to hurt!" came the classic commentary from Ray Warren. "Rugby league! Rugby league!" It was simply scintillating.

Another highlight was how Josh Papalii took on Paul Gallen. A memorable hit just before half time rocked the Sharks captain - and led to a war of words after the match. After the match, Gallen claimed: "I don't really care about Papalii. He hit me with a dog shot with a swinging arm and once in the back without the ball. Other than that, I don't think there was too much to it."

But Papalii had his measure and had got under Gallen's skin as well.

"'Papa' was matched up on 'Gal' and Furner gave him a few words of encouragement to get it over him early in the game," David Shillington explained. "'Papa' really stood up. He got under him a few times and Gal didn't handle it very well."

Canberra led 16-6 at half time, but the Sharks fought back. A Sharks try from a blatant forward pass in the 60th minute saw Canberra's lead cut to two points, 18-16. But then Canberra opened up again - scoring four magic tries in the final 15 minutes. The only down-side was that Jarrod Croker suffered a cheek bone fracture, after Jason Bukuya led with his knee in a tackle. The Raiders only scored three goals from eight attempts - with Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson missing four after Croker left the field. The Raiders could have put on 44 points.

Sadly, the Raiders would not progress beyond Week 2, losing to the Rabbitohs, 38-16, at Stadium Australia.

2012 Finals Week 1 - Canberra Raiders 34 (Sandor Earl 2, Blake Ferguson 2, Glen Buttriss, Josh Papalii, Sam Williams tries, Jarrod Croker 3 goals) defeated Cronulla Sharks 16

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Sandor Earl 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Blake Ferguson 5. Reece Robinson 6. Josh McCrone 7. Sam Williams 8. David Shillington 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Dane Tilse 11. Josh Papalii 12. Joel Thompson 13. Shaun Fensom

14. Shaun Berrigan 15. Joe Picker 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Tom Learoyd Lahrs

Coach David Furner
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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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35. The hoodoo knocks the Dragons off course



The legend of the Raiders’ hoodoo over the Dragons had been growing for some time. When the Dragons came to the nation’s capital in 2009, they expected it to be a routine day at the office. They were cruising towards the minor premiership and had been easily the best defensive unit all season. But Canberra had lost only once to St George Illawarra since 2001. And the Dragons were met by a hostile crowd of over 19,000. There were plenty of hostilities on the field as well, with Terry Campese in the thick of it.

Initially the Dragons’ defence proved to be impenetrable. A try either side of half time had the joint venture club up 12-0 and it was expected that the Dragons would simply suffocate the Raiders out of the game. Inconsistent all season, the Raiders then turned on undoubtedly their best thirty minutes of the season. An amazing try from a scrum by Jarrod Croker got the Raiders on the board, and only one set later boom winger Daniel Vidot had crossed in the corner. Immaculate kicking by five-eighth Terry Campese levelled the scores, and when Dane Tilse collected a grubber only minutes later, the Raiders were somehow in the lead.

Providing the blueprint to rattle the Dragons, ill-discipline gave the Raiders the chance to seal the victory with penalty goals. It was an exceptional victory, one that the Dragons never recovered from in 2009.

2009 Round 23 – Canberra Raiders 24 (Jarrod Croker, Daniel Vidot, Dane Tilse tries, Terry Campese 6 goals) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 12 (Darius Boyd, Brett Morris tries, Jamie Soward 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Sin bin: Terry Campese (Raiders), Jeremy Smith (Dragons), Dean Young (Dragons)

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Daniel Vidot 3. Jarrod Croker 11. Joel Thompson 5. Phil Graham 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. Dane Tilse 9. Alan Tongue 10. Scott Logan 14. Tom Learoyd Lahrs 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Josh Miller

15. Travis Waddell 16. Troy Thompson 17. Joe Picker 18. Trevor Thurling

Coach David Furner

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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What a pick up by Tilse!
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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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34. Do you believe in hoodoos? Do you believe in miracles?

The St George Illawarra Dragons visited Canberra Stadium, winless in the national capital since 2000, in Round 20 of 2011. The Dragons led 18-6 at half time, and Jamie Soward surely thought he had won his team the match when he landed a 40 metre field goal with just a minute left - giving the Dragons a 19-18 lead. But the Raiders famous "hoodoo" was still to play its part.

Canberra regained the ball from the kick off and Josh Dugan scored an incredible last ditch try, chasing a Josh McCrone kick. The moment will live on through the classic call: "Do you believe in hoodoos? Do you believe in miracles?!" It gave Canberra the 24-19 victory.

"Duges called for the ball. All credit goes to him," Josh McCrone said after the match. "We'd seen Ben Creagh rush up outside, we thought there was an opportunity, we had the numbers on them, he shouted for it, I kicked it, he flew through and put it down. As soon as he got there I knew it was down."



"To be 18-6 down at halftime, and then get back in the arm-wrestle and keep them to one point in the second half... They are one of the best attacking teams, and one of the best defensive teams, so to score three tries in the second half to their none, it was a great feeling," Josh Dugan said later.

"As soon as Jamie kicked his field goal, I knew it was going over. I ran to the ball boy on the sideline and grabbed the ball so we could kick off. I saw a bit of space behind, Josh's first couple of kicks in the first half went a bit long, but he was pin-pointing them in the second half and that's when they counted."

2011 Round 20 - Canberra Raiders 24 (Josh Dugan 2, Blake Ferguson, Josh McCrone tries, Jarrod Croker 4 goals) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 19 (Matt Cooper, Ben Creagh, Mark Gasnier, Brett Morris tries, Jamie Soward 1 goal, 1 field goal) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Blake Ferguson 19. Jarrod Croker 4. Joel Thompson 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Josh McCrone 7. Sam Williams 8. Brett White 9. Alan Tongue 10. Dane Tilse 18. Josh Papalii 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Shaun Fensom

3. Danny Galea 14. Glen Buttriss 16. Trevor Thurling 17. Sam Mataora

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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That Sharks final in 2012 is one of my favourite Raiders memories. It really was a great afternoon of football and nice way to get back into the finals winners list.

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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Thanks for posting these GE. Great memories - loved beating St George who had a top side then (Gasnier, Cooper, B Morris) and love beating any team with Jamie Soward in it.

It is a shame Dugan left the way he did as he reminded me of his talents in the highlights. Tilse was very underrated as well. Croker's solo try was excellent as well. McCrone - I used to love him and then hate him - he was so inconsistent
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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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Anything Jason Croker related gives me a whole bunch of good vibes. One of my favourite Raiders. I was just a kid when he came into the team and was looking for new heroes after Chicka retired. Saw him do the human flag at a school visit once- ridiculously strong person.

Was able to watch Croker start as a really good, surprisingly nimble and powerful winger (his shape didn't promise such things) and then just play every position in the team with aplomb. He never got moved because he was no good at something, only if we just needed him elsewhere.

He's a strong contender for backrow in any atg Raiders team (probably neck and neck with Whitehead) and at the very worst the ultimate #14 in such teams.
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40 Years - 40 Moments

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33. The birth of the Mac Attack

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1998. It was the first year of the National Rugby League, following the ARL-Super League split of 1997. In the opening month of the competition, the Raiders had won just once, against the Gold Coast. In Round 5, they hosted a Manly Sea Eagles team, coached by Bob Fulton and captained by Geoff Toovey. Ricky Stuart was left out of the team, suffering recurring migraines. It would turn out to be a much more serious condition, viral encephalitis, a disease that robbed him of his mobility and speech, and left him six kilograms lighter.

During the match, the Raiders suffered more adversity. Captain Laurie Daley left the field with a hamstring strain before the 30 minute mark. Brad Clyde also left the field for a period after a head knock. It looked like dire straits when the Sea Eagles took a 20-2 lead after only 25 minutes. However, the Raiders ground their way back into the game. Tries to Luke Davico and Jason Croker put Canberra back into the game before half time - cutting Manly's lead to eight.

In the absence of Stuart and Daley, a young halves pairing of Andrew McFadden and Mark McLinden took control. It was McLinden's third first grade match, McFadden's fifth. Six minutes into the second half, the 18 year old McLinden sent Albert Fulivai down the touchline for a try. He was back in action again, seven minutes from full time, putting Jason Croker in for his second try. Furner could not convert and the game was locked up at 20-20. With 90 seconds left, a kick from Manly forward Nik Kosef deflected off Brad Clyde, and McLinden scooped up the ball and produced a thrilling 50 metre run down the sideline for the winning try. McLinden was the man of the match in his first home game in firsts. The Raiders had produced what was then a club record comeback, recovering from 18 points down. And the "Mac Attack" was born.

Round 5 1998 - Canberra Raiders 26 (Jason Croker 2, Luke Davico, Albert Fulivai, Mark McLinden tries; David Furner 3 goals) defeated Manly Sea Eagles 20 (Daniel Gartner, John Hopoate, Steve Menzies, Luke Phillips tries; Luke Phillips 2 goals) at Bruce Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Geoff McNamara 2. Jason Croker 3. Brandon Costin 4. Ruben Wiki 5. Lesley Vainikolo 6. Laurie Daley (C) 7. Andrew McFadden 8. Brett Hetherington 9. Simon Woolford 10. Luke Davico 11. Ben Kennedy 12. David Furner 13. Brad Clyde

14. Mark McLinden 15. David Boyle 16. Albert Fulivai 17. Anthony Seibold

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32. First ever win in Sydney

The Canberra Raiders had won just four matches in 1982, their debut season, all at their home ground at Seiffert Oval. The 1983 season started more positively, however, with two wins in the first five rounds - and a one point loss to the Rabbitohs.

The Raiders had shown enough form to earn Saturday “Match of the Day” status for the clash with the Cronulla Sharks at Endeavour Field. The decision of the NSWRL to feature Canberra on television for the first time was widely welcomed, but it quickly produced viewer outrage in the national capital. In 1983, Saturday matches were broadcast on commercial television, replayed at 6.30pm. Local broadcaster Capital 7, the only commercial station in town, decided that that week it would instead show “The Sound of Music” and push the Raiders back to a 9.45pm slot. A raft of complaints could not shift the local station.

The station management probably regretted their decision later as the Raiders produced their first ever away win. It was also the first time Canberra had won twice in a row. Canberra overcame a 9-24 penalty count, driving rain, and the sin binning of Chris O’Sullivan and Gary Spears for back chat, to achieve a 24-8 victory over the Sharks.

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The Raiders opened the scoring after only five minutes, with David Grant bursting onto a short pass from Percy Knight to score under the posts. Taking advantage of the wind at their backs, the Raiders continued to kick early in the tackle count through McMahon and O'Callaghan, putting pressure on fullback Andrew Ettinshausen in just his second game.

In the 17th minute, Percy Knight put second rower Gary Spears away for a 30 metre run down the touchline, with Spears turning it back inside for Ray Blacklock for a 75 metre try. Just a minute later, a knock from Ettinshausen allowed Terry Fahey to kick ahead, and the powerhouse winger won the chase for a four pointer. Six minutes from the break, Ettingshausen again gifted the Raiders a try, a loose pass scooped up by Ron Giteau. His sideline conversion gave the so-called "lime splices" a 24-2 half time lead.

Sharks coach Terry Fearnley was forced to take Ettinshausen off at half time. Cronulla scored 20 minutes into the second half through replacement fullback Ian Forrest. Although the Raiders were held scoreless in the second half, that proved to be the only points scored by Cronulla.

Commentator Arthur Summons said during the match: "We expected to see a Sydney side put on an exhibition against a local bush side but we've seen quite the reverse."

The Raiders had deliberately targeted the 17 year old Ettingshausen with bombs.

"[Coach] Don [Furner] thought we could fluster the youngster [Ettingshausen] and it happened," captain Allan McMahon said.

Coach Furner hailed the psychological breakthrough for the Raiders saying: "They’ve got no more excuses after winning away from home today".

"It was a day for wet weather football and we played well in the first half. Then all we needed to do in the second half was keep them out."

"We didn't want to play them anywhere near our half and I instructed my boys to use the wind in the first half and when we couldn't kick in the second half, to keep things safe by running from dummy half".

Furner was particularly pleased with the relentless defence of his forwards, led by big hitter Jon Hardy.

"We had a smaller pack last year but this year we've added some size and none of the Cronulla players wanted to run into the rucks after we had made several telling early tackles," he said.

Raiders sponsor Jim Woodger had offered a $2,000 bonus for the team for the first away win. The players agreed it should go into a fund for Geoff Seaton, a lower grade Canberra player who became a paraplegic after breaking his neck in a preseason trial against Orange.

1983 Round 6 - Canberra Raiders 24 (R. Blacklock, T. Fahey, R. Giteau, D. Grant tries; R. Giteau 4 goals) defeated Cronulla Sharks 8 (I. Forrest try; D. Sorensen 2 goals) at Endeavour Field

Canberra Raiders: 1. Steve O'Callaghan 2. Terry Fahey 3. Ron Giteau 4. Allan McMahon (C) 5. Ray Blacklock 6. Percy Knight 7. Chris O'Sullivan 13. Jon Hardy 12. Jay Hoffman 11. David Grant 10. Sam Backo 9. Gary Spears 8. Ashley Gilbert

14. John McLeod 15. Frank Roddy 16. Scott Dudman

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31. The real final home match for Laurie Daley

The Raiders defy the Sydney critics. Sounds familiar? That's what happened in the year 2000, with Canberra's chances of making the top eight dismissed by most experts. Instead, Canberra maintained a place in the top eight for the entire season, and by the end of the year were placed in the top four. It was mostly due to a wonderful record at home, with Canberra not winning away until Round 18 against the Warriors. But wins over the Bulldogs, Storm and Cowboys away helped the Green Machine secure fourth spot on the ladder.

Milestones during the season included David Furner becoming the highest point scoring forward of all time - beating the 40 year old record of Bernie Purcell - Brett Mullins becoming the first Raiders' player to break 100 tries, and Laurie Daley becoming the most capped Raider in club history.



In Week 1 of the finals, Canberra met the fifth placed Penrith Panthers at Bruce on a Friday night, in front of over 18,000. The "final" home game for Laurie Daley, David Furner and Brett Mullins had been celebrated in Round 23. But this was the real final home match for the trio.

The Raiders trailed by 16-6 just before half time, but went on to score 28 points without any reply from the Panthers. The domination in the second half was complete, with tries to Todd Payten, Jason Croker, Andrew McFadden and Jamaal Lolesi. Croker ended with a double in the 34-16 victory. Laurie Daley was given a shot at goal in his very last appearance in Canberra, but he could not get the points.

The match was also marked by two lifting tackles, which would prove fatal to Canberra's finals campaign. Midway through the first half, David Furner and Andrew McFadden were put on report for a tackle on Tony Puletua. Then two minutes later, Jason Croker and Simon Woolford were also put on report for a similar tackle on Puletua. All four contested the ensuing charges, but only Furner was found not guilty. McFadden, Croker and Woolford were suspended. It was too much for the Raiders to overcome in Week 2, losing 38-10 to the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium. It knocked the Raiders out of the finals race.

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Laurie Daley leaves the field in his final NRL match, the Week 2 Finals match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

2000 Qualifying Final - Canberra Raiders 34 (Jason Croker 2, Brett Finch, Jamahl Lolesi, Andrew McFadden, Todd Payten tries, David Furner 5 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 16 (Ryan Girdler, Matthew Rodwell tries, Ryan Girdler 4 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Ken Nagas 2. Mark McLinden 3. Jamahl Lolesi 4. Brett Mullins 5. Lesley Vainikolo 6. Laurie Daley (C) 7. Brett Finch 8. Todd Payten 9. Simon Woolford 10. Luke Davico 11. Ruben Wiki 12. David Furner 13. Jason Croker

14. Andrew McFadden 15. Luke Williamson 16. Adam Peters 17. Alan Tongue

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That video is mine. Might do some remastering and upload the whole game.
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30. Eels humbled by discards

For over 30 years, the 54-3 defeat at the hands of the Eels in 1982 ranked as the worst loss in Raiders history. It is still the second worst, to this day. And when the Eels came to Seiffert in 1983, they were on their way to a third straight premiership, after back to back grand final wins in 1981-82. But in a remarkable upset, the Raiders held Parramatta scoreless and toughed out an 8-0 victory in front of 15,578 fans.

Ron Giteau scored all the points for the Raiders that day – a try and two penalty goals. The Raiders led 4-0 at half time through two penalty goals. During the break, coach Furner challenged his team to continue to stifle the Eels in the second half.

"Every man we put on the field played magnificently," Furner said. "At halftime I asked them if we could keep the pressure up for a full game and they all shouted, 'Yes!' At the break I asked Terry Fahey to involve himself in the play more and his response was devastating. There is no stronger wing in the game and I'm surprised the representative selectors don't give him another go."

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The only points in the second period came from the Giteau try, scored at the 47 minute mark. The Raiders just smothered Parramatta for the rest of the match. The Eels were without Peter Sterling and Eric Grothe on Test duty and Ray Price, through injury. But they still had the likes of Michael Cronin, Brett Kenny and Steve Ella. The Raiders too were missing captain Allan McMahon, Jon Hardy and regular fullback Steve O'Callaghan. The next day, the headlines in Sydney read "Eels humbled by discards" and "Eels stunned".

Second rower John McLeod later recalled: "I remember we beat Parramatta 8-0 around the time that Irishman Bobbie Sands died [in jail from a hunger strike]. In the sheds after the game one of us yelled out, 'What's Parramatta and Bobbie Sands got in common? Ate nothing, ate nothing!" Hooker Jay Hoffman said later of the match: "I don't think there would have been too many better wins from a club point of view. It wasn't luck, it wasn't because they were missing their stars, we just played better footy." Halfback that day, Chris O'Sullivan said: "That would be the pick of them in the early years. We just went out and got stuck straight into them. We knocked them around severely, we really gave them a bashing. We were in their faces. They didn't cross our try line and never looked like it either."

1983 Round 16 - Canberra Raiders 8 (Ron Giteau try, 2 goals) defeated Parramatta Eels 0

Canberra Raiders: 1. Gary Wurth 2. Terry Fahey 3. Ron Giteau (c) 4. Craig Bellamy 5. Ray Blacklock 6. Percy Knight 7. Chris O'Sullivan 8. Ashley Gilbert 9. Paul Elliott 10. John McLeod 11. David Grant 12. Jay Hoffman 13. Gary Spears 14. Angel Marina p 15. Ian Hamilton

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29. First shot at the finals

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With just two matches left in the 1984 season – against Penrith and Canterbury – the Canberra Raiders were teetering on the edge of missing the finals, in seventh spot.

It was not looking good when the Raiders trailed the Panthers at half time at Seiffert Oval in Round 25. But Canberra came back with four brilliant tries to overwhelm the opposition 30-10 - despite playing with just 12 men after Gary Spears was sent off 15 minutes into the second half.

Sadly, Canberra could not back up. The Raiders were smashed 36-0 on the Saturday afternoon in Round 26 at Belmore by the Bulldogs. The season looked all but over. If Penrith could beat Parramatta the next day, the Raiders would miss the finals. And if Souths, Illawarra or Balmain were to win, then play offs for the last spot in the finals could ensue.

Ron Giteau later remembered that the team had drinks at David Grant’s house on the Sunday as they waited for the results to come through. As it turned out, Penrith could not prevail over the Eels and make the finals for the first time in their 17 year history. Nor could Balmain or Illawarra produce a win. But when Souths beat Norths, the Rabbitohs finished equal fifth with Canberra on 30 competition points – and with a better for and against points differential. Giteau remembered: "We thought, that’s it, we’ll have a few drinks. Then when the results went our way we all looked at each other and thought, ‘****, we’ve got to aim up again on Tuesday’."



It had been one win apiece for the two teams during the regular season. The Raiders had soundly beaten the Rabbitohs in the season opener, 29-4, but lost, 16-6, at Redfern in June. The play off took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Canberra’s first appearance at the home of finals football. But the Raiders could not match the Rabbitohs. It was fiery in the first 20 minutes, with a Gary Spears tackle prompting a melee. All that petered out by the second half. The Raiders were unable to counter Souths’ strong defence and Neil Baker’s kicking game - and were contained in their own territory for long stretches. Steve O’Callaghan and Paul Elliott were injected in the second half, replacing Ron Sigsworth and Nigel Wilson, but it didn’t help a lot. It was a 23-4 loss, Canberra’s only points coming from Giteau penalty goals.

The Green Machine’s courageous run at the finals had come to an end. However, Canberra had become a competitive club in just three seasons. The first Raiders team to make the finals did go on to play that next weekend – third grade had qualified for the elimination final at the SCG against Wests. But they too would taste defeat at the old headquarters, 22-16.

1984 Play off for fifth - South Sydney Rabbitohs (Craig Coleman, Bronko Djura, Mark Ellison, Ross Harrington tries, Neil Baker 2, Mark Ellison 1 goals, Neil Baker 1 field goal) 23 defeated Canberra Raiders 4 (Ron Giteau 2 goals) at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Canberra Raiders: 1. Ron Sigsworth 2. Mick Aldous 3. Ron Giteau 4. Craig Bellamy 5. Bill Walker 6. Ivan Henjak 7. Chris O'Sullivan 8. Dean Lance 9. Nigel Wilson 10. Ashley Gilbert 11. David Grant 12. Jay Hoffman 13. Gary Spears Reserves: Steve O’Callaghan, Paul Elliott

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28. Raiders defeat three time premiers



In the early 1980s, clashes against the reigning premiers, the Parramatta Eels attracted huge crowds to Seiffert Oval for their clashes with the Raiders. The struggling Raiders famously upset the Eels eight-nothing in 1983. But by 1984, instead of being referred to as the “Faders”, the media started to refer to Canberra as the “Green Machine”.

The three time premier visited Seiffert Oval in round 19. It was the match of the round on a Sunday afternoon and the Eels fielded a team littered with big names... Sterling, Kenny, Cronin, Grothe, Price. A record crowd of 17,407 turned up to see if this new Green Machine could repeat the defeat of the previous season.

They could. It was a battle in the first half, the battle between the forwards underlined when a clash between David Grant and Parramatta forward Chris Phelan resulted in 15 stiches between them.

Canberra then played Parramatta at their own game in the second half, and came out on top. The Raiders trailed 10-8 with less than 15 minutes remaining. But a repeat set on Parramatta’s line gave David Grant his chance. He crashed over for a try and Giteau’s conversion delivered a 14-10 lead. The Eels challenged strongly in the final minutes, but could not score.

Don Furner’s reaction after the match would be often repeated during the rest of the season. "Not bad for a bush team, are they?" he said. "It was a team effort but the forwards played a big part in our win today. The big men took it up and the rest worked hard on defence without stopping. We knew if we let them run they’d do it all day. We tackled, tackled and then attacked. Most importantly we kept possession and it was a good win."

Parramatta would again go on to make the Grand Final in 1984, but their coach John Monie admitted: "The Raiders broke us up the middle – that has not happened to us before and it must not happen again. Canberra’s defence was excellent and their big men hit us hard with a result we dropped a lot of ball that they were able to make good use of."

Something had started to brew in the national capital.

1984 Round 19 – Canberra Raiders 14 (Matthew Corkery, David Grant tries; Ron Giteau 3 goals) defeated Parramatta 10 at Seiffert Oval.

Canberra Raiders: 1. Steve O'Callaghan 2. Bill Walker 3. Ron Giteau 4. Craig Bellamy 5. Ian Hamilton 6. Ivan Henjak 7. Chris O'Sullivan 8. Dean Lance 9. Paul Elliott 10. Sam Backo 11. Grant Ellis 12. John McLeod 13. David Grant

14. Matthew Corkery

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27. The Dragons hoodoo grows



Up until Round 18 of 2010, Canberra had won just five matches. The Raiders were 13th on the competition ladder and had lost four straight matches. But in Round 18, Canberra came from behind at Brookvale Oval, to win narrowly over the Manly Sea Eagles, 24-22. It was the start of a late surge, led by Terry Campese. In Round 24, the St George Illawarra Dragons visited Canberra, winless in the national capital for a decade. But they had been running in first place on the competition ladder since Round 5. The Raiders, still outside the top eight, had to win to maintain their finals hopes.

The Dragons put on a show of their typical impenetrable defence in the first half, and they led 4-0 at half time. But the Raiders blew the match apart in the second half. It started with a Daniel Vidot try eight minutes after the break. Terry Campese quickly took control, scoring under the posts. "He's invented a new grubber kick... it's like a grubber, chip kick!" commentator Gary Belcher marvelled. Adam Mogg followed up.

Then Canberra scored two classic tries. Josh Dugan diffused a dangerous Jamie Soward chip kick, bumped out of a Neville Costigan tackle, and just emerged out the other side of a group of Dragons defenders. He ran 80 metres to score under the posts. Shortly after, Jarrod Croker made a break wide out, 80 metres from the line. He flew and Joe Picker was backing up on the inside. He pushed Jamie Soward to one side with ease and scored in the corner. Terry Campese swarmed in, taking Picker to the fence to the arms of the fans. It was five tries in 12 minutes. The commentary was ecstatic: "The Green Machine is rolling again! The glory days are back here in Canberra!"

''Everyone wants to play finals football,'' Terry Campese said after the match.

''If we can bring the attitude that we brought in the second half you never know what we can do. If we make the semis, if we make the top eight we're going to give it a real crack. We've got a very good squad and on our day we can beat anyone. We're starting to get the confidence and that's big in this game.''

''It was frustrating [early]. It felt like we were parked on their line nearly that whole first half, and they were getting us by one leg when we were about to score tries. We knew if we kept at it in the second half, eventually they would break - and that's what they did.''

Campese paid tribute to the rapturous local crowd of over 20,000.

''The crowd plays a big part in these games, especially the tight ones, and they cheered us home in that second half,'' he said.

''You could feel the boys getting behind it. And I think that's what gives you that extra urge to run harder and get up and play the ball quicker. Just in those precious times they're there to cheer us on which is an extra bonus for you to defend or attack. It's great to see and it'll be good to get the same next week."

Coach David Furner paid tribute to his mercurial five eighth in keeping the Raiders' season alive.

''He's playing some bloody good footy,'' Furner said of Campese.

''In my opinion he's a better player now in terms of what he knows about the game and understanding his role than he was in 2008.''

"We do live to fight another day. Three or four teams have scored 20 points or more against the Dragons this season. We did it earlier this year and we've done it again today. Our last five or six weeks have been really pleasing as a coach."

Prop David Shillington said beating the Dragons was the best victory he had been a part of as a Raider.

''We saw the Dragons fans walking out with five or ten minutes to go and that was pretty satisfying, it's a long drive back to Wollongong,'' Shillington said.

''They're the benchmark of the competition and we just beat them so it's probably the proudest win I've had with the Raiders. We knew what pressure was around this game, if we lost the finals were gone."

It was an inspirational 32-16 win over the eventual premiers.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett admitted Canberra was ''certainly as good as anyone we've played''.

The Raiders had posted 11 wins in their past 12 matches against the Dragons - and the "hoodoo" continued to grow.

It is no wonder many Raiders fans still ask themselves about the 2010 season: "What if?"

2010 Round 24 - Canberra Raiders 32 (Glen Buttriss, Terry Campese, Josh Dugan, Adam Mogg, Joe Picker, Daniel Vidot tries, Jarrod Croker 4 goals) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 16 (Neville Costigan, Mark Gasnier, Brett Morris tries, Jamie Soward 2 goals)

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Joel Monaghan 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Adam Mogg 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. Tom Learoyd Lahrs 9. Alan Tongue 10. David Shillington 11. Joe Picker 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Trevor Thurling

14. Glen Buttriss 16. Dane Tilse 17. Scott Logan 18. Shaun Fensom

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26. Mullins scores four

The Canberra Raiders headed to Newcastle in Round 18 of 1994 on a three game winning streak. They had put big scores up against the Tigers, Sharks and Rabbitohs. Against the Sharks, the Raiders broke through the 50 points barrier, with mercurial fullback Brett Mullins scoring three tries at Bruce Stadium. Mullins had just recently made his debut for Australia, in a Test against France. Then, at the Sydney Football Stadium, the Raiders posted 48 points against the Rabbitohs. Mullins scored four. Somehow, he topped that performance at the Hunter.

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Brett Mullins holds up four fingers to signify the four tries he scored against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The match against the Knights was billed as an early semi-finals clash. Knights coach David Waite was reportedly under pressure to hold his job. Newcastle still had hopes of pushing their way into the top five, and pushing the Broncos out. They had five rounds, including two home games, in which to do it. The Raiders, in fourth place, were aiming for a top three finish. A huge crowd of almost 23,000 turned out in Newcastle to support the home team in Friday Night Football.

The Knights fielded a big pack, including names like Paul Harragon, Mark Sargent, Tony Butterfield and Marc Glanville. A young halves pairing of Andrew and Matthew Johns was steering the team around, while Robbie O'Davis featured at fullback. Matthew Johns has often said later that the Raiders team he faced that year is the best he's ever faced.

By the end of the night, the Raiders had piled on 52 points, and the Knights, just 16. To that point, it was the Knights' worst ever defeat. Brett Mullins had again scored four. The Knights started well, and in the fourth minute, had pinned Ricky Stuart to the Raiders' own goal line. Mullins then exploded, accepting the ball from Noa Nadruku, finding the gap in the middle of the field and running 98 metres to score the first try of the game. Twelve minutes later, Mullins again took the ball from Nadruku on the Raiders' own line. This time he ran wide. Another length of the field try, beating Robbie O'Davis along the way. The Raiders were suddenly in front, 18-0 - and took a 30-6 lead to the break.

Thirteen minutes into the second half, Mullins was at it again - running a measly 40 metres to score, after taking a nice offload from David Furner. He rounded the game out with another try, five minutes from the end. Jason Croker, playing five eighth that night, ran towards the sideline, drawing the defence wide, before throwing a cut out pass back inside to Mullins. There was a huge gap for Mullins to run into, 15 metres from the line.

'That was easily our best away win of the season," Raiders coach Tim Sheens said after the game.

"The most pleasing aspect of our last three games is Souths, Cronulla and Newcastle all had to win. The intensity is there, you can sense it among our players. Our control and defence has picked up and a lot of that has to do with having the same team on the paddock for the last month."

"Having strike players like Mullins who can come up with a couple of 100 metre tries also helps out," Sheens added, surely with his tongue a little in his cheek.

"He is playing really well. There is a lot of good lead up work which he is feeding off, the same as any
good full-back would do. But he is always sniffing and looking to get involved."

Brett Mullins had scored 11 tries in three games, in the space of 14 days - and four tries in successive games. He joined Jason Croker at the top of the competition's try scoring list. Mullins and Croker went on to both score 22 tries that year, setting a new club record. However, Brisbane's Steve Renouf took the title as the competition's top try scorer of 1994, scoring 23. Mullins was named the Dally M Fullback of the Year. Today, only Jordan Rapana has scored more tries in a season at the Raiders (23), while Mullins still ranks third at the club's greatest try scorer (105).

1994 Round 18 - Canberra Raiders 52 (B. Mullins 4, R. Wiki 2, N. Nadruku, R. Stuart, S. Walters tries; D. Furner 8 goals) defeated Newcastle 16 (A. Johns 2, J. Ainscough tries; A. Johns 2 goals) at Newcastle

Canberra: 1. Brett Mullins 2. Albert Fulivai 3. Mal Meninga 4. Ruben Wiki 5. Noa Nadruku 6. Jason Croker 7. Ricky Stuart 8. Quentin Pongia 9. Steve Walters 10. John Lomax 11. Brett Hetherington 12. David Furner 13. Brad Clyde

14. David Westley 15. Jason Death 16. David Boyle

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I was there that night and those 4 tries were part of 11 tries in 4 game games for him

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Nice to have experienced it in person. Eleven in three games actually and in 14 days, scored four in two games in succession.
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25. Ding dong, the witch is dead



Round 16 2009. At the end of the match, the legendary rugby league coach Jack Gibson might have said 'ding dong, the witch is dead'. The Raiders went into a clash against a full strength Melbourne Storm team, with a 4-9 win-loss record to their name. Canberra had not beaten Melbourne for seven seasons, for 2486 days. At the time, the 14 game losing streak was the longest drought in the NRL.

In front of a modest Canberra crowd, the Raiders started strongly. The tactic was to bomb to Raiders centre Joel Monaghan and it worked. The aerial attack down the right resulted in two first half tries to Monaghan and one to Justin Carney. Carney was instrumental in shutting down superstar Greg Inglis, while the kicking game of Terry Campese and Marc Herbert kept the Storm continually under pressure. The visitors trailed, 16-4, at the break.

An early try to Justin Carney in the second half gave him his double and the Raiders a commanding 20-4 lead. Many Raiders fans dared to dream - could the Storm finally be beaten? Josh Dugan at fullback was mesmerising, racking up close to 300 metres with several blistering runs. The Raiders pack did their job against the much vaunted Storm forwards.

The class of the Storm shone through, however, with two quick tries, reducing the margin to four with almost 20 minutes to play. Many Raiders fans feared the worst, but inspirational defence and a last-second try to Bronson Harrison ensured scenes of jubilation around Canberra Stadium. A 26-16 victory for the Green Machine.

In his first season as coach, David Furner had achieved something both predecessors Elliott and Henry could not. Furner insisted the hoodoo had not been mentioned in the lead up to the game. But it was the day that a statue of club legend, Mal Meninga, had been unveiled at the ground. Meninga visited the sheds prior to the match.

"He didn't really say much, he was more talking to Furnesy and just saying hello to everyone. It was just being in the big man's presence really," Josh Dugan said after the game.

"It's always a big pump up before the game to have one of the legends come into the dressing room and say hello. He came in and I think just the presence of him saying hello to everyone pumped them up, especially today with the unveiling of his statue. He is one of the greats of the Raiders so it was a good pump up for the boys."

Dugan, awarded man of the match, was 13 years old when Canberra had last beaten the Storm.

"It was great," captain Alan Tongue said. "All of the things that we talked about during the week pretty much happened. We knew it was going to take 80 minutes, we knew that we would be tested in different parts of the game - that the Inglis's and Slater's would come up with some special plays and we just had to minimise their involvement. It was just good reward for working hard and sticking out the game plan."

A seven season, 14 game drought had broken.

2009 Round 16 – Canberra 26 (Joel Monaghan 2, Justin Carney 2, Bronson Harrison tries, Terry Campese 3 goals) defeated Melbourne Storm 16 (Will Chambers, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith tries, Cameron Smith 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Justin Carney 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Phil Graham 6. Terry Campese 7. Marc Herbert 8. David Shillington 13. Alan Tongue (C) 10. Troy Thompson 11. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 12. Bro son Harrison 15. Nigel Plum

9. Glen Buttriss 14. Trevor Thurling 16. Josh Miller 17. Dane Tilse

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24. They knocked down the fence to get to the team!



Week 1 of the 2010 finals saw the Canberra Raiders travel to Penrith and a huge contingent of Raiders fans congregated in the corner of the ground and behind the posts. The Raiders had had to win nine of the final 10 games just to qualify.

Terry Campese was in a purple patch of form, of the sort rarely seen before in the competition. He scored after just five minutes, and at half time, the Raiders led 18-12. When Reece Robinson scored in the 42nd minute off a Dugan pass, Canberra went to what looked like a comfortable 12 point lead over the Panthers. The opposition put on a huge comeback, but the Raiders held on in a thrilling finish, 24-22.

It was four tries apiece, but the Raiders were clearly the better side, denied twice for forward passes and controversially when Terry Campese brilliant run to the line was disallowed for obstruction.

''I'm just glad it didn't come down to that,'' Raiders coach David Furner said of the obstruction call.

''I'm sorry, there needs to be a definite review of those obstruction calls. That could have cost us the game and I thought we were the better side. I don't feel we deserved to have been put in a position where we could have lost it. If that's an obstruction, that's rubbish.''

''We've fought to get ourselves in this position and we're not going to let it go lightly,'' Furner said. It was a tremendous effort by the players. We've got a home final Friday and I think that's pretty exciting for the players. I think they've earned it.''

''It's unbelievable,'' Raiders fullback Josh Dugan added, after the club's first finals win since 2000.

''We've been playing with that confidence for the last eight weeks and we're going great guns. 'We don't fear anyone at the moment.''

When the Raiders went to the corner after the match, the fans surged and the fence could not contain them. It collapsed and supporters spilled onto the field. It was six wins in a row, something no other team had done all season.



A then record crowd of 26,476 turned out at Canberra Stadium the next week - and there was no doubt the city of Canberra had fallen in love with the Raiders all over again. However, the Green Machine could not quite get there, losing by just two points, 26-24. Sadly, Terry Campese suffered an ACL injury at a critical time in the game. It was a year when Raiders fans were left wondering what might have been.



2010 Qualifying Final - Canberra Raiders 24 (Terry Campese, Bronson Harrison, Reece Robinson, Dane Tilse tries, Jarrod Croker 4 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 22 (Sandor Earl 2, Michael Gordon 2 tries, Michael Gordon 3 goals) at Penrith Park

Canberra Raiders: 1. Josh Dugan 2. Reece Robinson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Terry Campese 7. Josh McCrone 8. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 9. Glen Buttriss 10. David Shillington 11. Joe Picker 12. Bronson Harrison 13. Shaun Fensom

14. Travis Waddell 15. Dane Tilse 16. Scott Logan 17. Trevor Thurling

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23. Croker courage

Life post Daley, Furner and Mullins wasn't meant to be easy, and for the Canberra Raiders in season 2001, it wasn't. In Round 17 the Sydney Roosters - who were then placed in the top three - visited the nation’s capital. The Raiders were struggling in 11th place on the ladder. By the end of the day, the Raiders had produced one their most courageous victories.

The Raiders trailed at half time by 10 points, 22-10. There were no players left on the bench for the majority of the second half, the squad struck down by injury. The Raiders had lost Mark McLinden (suspected broken jaw), Ken Nagas (suspected broken leg) and Ruben Wiki (concussion, neck) by half time. At the 45th minute, Sean Rutgerson left the field with a knee injury. Whoever was left had to stay on the field.

Jason Croker did just that. Incredibly, he played the entire second half with a torn cruciate ligament in one knee and an ankle ligament strain in his other leg.

"I just knew I didn't want to let my mates or the club down," he said later. "I got a call from the coaches and they said we had no one left on the bench so I sort of said to myself, 'right, I'm going to have to stick this out' I don't know if it was brave or just stupid."

The 13 Raiders went on to score 22 unanswered points in the second half, with tries to Odell Manuel and Clinton Schifcofske tries helping to give the Green Machine the lead. A try to Darren Mapp with four minutes remaining sealed the famous victory.

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"I think everyone associated with the club is very proud of the way the players played today. You shook your head in awe at what they did. It was a magnificent effort," outgoing coach Mal Meninga said after the match.

Croker required a knee reconstruction and was awarded the John Sattler Trophy for courage. Incoming coach Matt Elliott was assistant coach that year. "Words fail me to be honest," he said. "It was one of those things that you see that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck."

2000 Round 17 - Canberra Raiders 32 (Clinton Schifcofske 2, B Finch, Odell Manuel, Darren Mapp, Ken Nagas tries, Clinton Schifcofske 4 goals) defeated Sydney Roosters 22 (Micheal Crocker, Shannon Hegarty, Matt Sing, Craig Wing tries, Craig Fitzgibbon 3 goals)

Canberra Raiders: 1. Clinton Schifcofske 2. Odell Manuel 3. Ken Nagas 14. Brad Kelly 5. Greg Wolfgramm 6. Mark McLinden 7. B Finch 8. Sean Rutgerson 9. Simon Woolford 10. Ryan O'Hara 11. Ruben Wiki 12. Alan Tongue 13. Jason Croker

15. Darren Mapp 16. Terry Martin 17. Darren Porter 18. Michael Monaghan

Coach Mal Meninga

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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22. Storming Melbourne

The Melbourne Storm had held first place on the competition ladder since the middle of 2019. The Raiders sat in third when they travelled to Bleak City in Round 22, for a clash with a team they had not beaten since 2016. Indeed, the Storm were the Raiders' No. 1 bogey team.

Things certainly did not go to plan for the Green Machine. They played 20 minutes of the first half with 12 men, after Jack Wighton and Joe Tapine were both sent to the sin bin. The Storm scored twice when Wighton and Tapine were off the field, and led 18-0 after 30 minutes. The Storm had never lost after leading by that margin. Their worst collapse ever was in Sydney in 2004, when they surrendered a 16 point lead against the Rabbitohs. But the Raiders went on to score 22 unanswered points, producing an incredible comeback in one of the most hostile environments in the NRL.



The Raiders' start was the worst possible. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad uncharacteristically lost the ball on the Raiders' first possession. Canberra then conceded four straight penalties, a sin binning, and a try in the first five minutes. Wighton's sin binning was the result of making an instinctive, reflex tackle, but he was obviously off side after the Storm had taken a quick tap. There was no doubt, he had to go for a spell.

Joe Tapine was sin binned 15 minutes into the game - for throwing a punch of sorts. The Storm's Nelson Asofa Solomona had been the instigator of the blow up in a scrum - which the Raiders were about to feed. But it was ill discipline from Tapine that the Raiders could not afford. Almost instantly the Raiders conceded another four pointer. Then in the 28th minute a long, misdirected pass from Josh Hodgson fell at the feet of Nick Cotric - and he was stripped of the ball by Suliasi Vunivalu, who scored under the posts. Everything possible had gone wrong.

But then the long process of the comeback began, first with a try to Jarrod Croker with seven minutes to the break. It finished with a barn-storming run from Josh Papalii to score under the posts with just four minutes remaining in the match. The Raiders have mounted only two bigger comebacks - from 22 points down.

"There is no worries about belief. We know we are good enough," coach Ricky Stuart said after the game.

"They showed everything out there that a lot of our non-believers think we haven't got. We are a very good attacking team and very instinctive. We are unpredictable and sometimes that has got us in trouble. We shoot ourselves in the foot through our unpredictability, because we push the pass too much. It has probably helped us this year because we have tried to find a little bit more composure with our play, more so than always trying to score. Outside our defence that is probably one of our biggest improvements."

It wasn't to be the last time that the Raiders would storm Melbourne that year. In Week 1 of the finals, the Raiders again had to meet the Storm in the southern capital. The Storm were the minor premiers. The Raiders had never beaten Melbourne in a finals match. They had not won back-to-back against the Storm since 2012-13. They had only beaten the Storm twice in a season, once - back in 2000.

There was high drama before the game even kicked off. A fireworks display which greeted the players as they ran onto the field resulted in an eye problem for Canberra centre Joey Leilua. A piece of ash had lodged in his eye and he could not take the field. Bailey Simonsson had an unexpected start - and he produced an unexpectedly early try for Canberra. Simonsson suffered an injury in scoring the try, but somehow managed to play on. But that was not the end of the injury hurdles for the Green Machine. Nick Cotric copped a stray boot to the face only 20 minutes into the game. The blood flowed and he was ruled out of the game after a head injury assessment. The Raiders had to battle on, a man short.

The Raiders led, 6-2, at half time. Of course, the Storm wrestled their way back into the match in the second half - a try and penalty goals giving them a 10-6 lead. But with just a few minutes left on the clock, a Joe Tapine tackle forced a Storm error on their own line - and then Joey Leilua and John Bateman silenced the Melbourne crowd and their bloody cow bell. The conversion for Jarrod Croker from in front sealed it.



Canberra's defence in the first half was absolutely brutal. They battered the Storm, putting them off their rhythm. In the second half, the defence from the Raiders was simply desperate. The Storm had many opportunities in the second half, but Canberra did whatever it took to stop Melbourne from scoring. They held the Storm to just one try, and that was the result of a kick. The Raiders just out-Stormed the Storm.

The two point victory reversed the heartbreaking two point loss suffered by the Raiders in the Preliminary Final in Melbourne in 2016. It also delivered a Preliminary Final for the Green Machine in the nation's capital - something that had never happened before. More drama would soon follow.

2019 Round 22 - Canberra Raiders 22 (Jarrod Croker 2, Josh Papalii, Jordan Rapana tries, Jarrod Croker 3 goals) defeated Melbourne Storm (Josh Addo-Carr, Justin Olam, Suliasi Vunivalu tries, Cameron Smith 3 goals)

Canberra Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Sia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine

14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Ryan Sutton

Coach Ricky Stuart

Crowd: 17,769


2019 Finals Week 1 - Canberra Raiders 12 (Bailey Simonsson, John Bateman tries, Jarrod Croker 2 goals) defeated Melbourne Storm (Suliasi Vunivalu try, Cameron Smith 3 goals)

Canberra Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 14. Bailey Simonsson 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 15. Dunamis Lui 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Sia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine

4. Joseph Leilua 8. Josh Papalii 16. Corey Horsburgh 19. Emre Guler

Coach Ricky Stuart

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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21. 2006 was golden

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Canberra started the 2006 season in the worst imaginable fashion. They were wooden spoon favourites, and had six players on the injured list before a ball was kicked. Despite that, they upset the Manly Sea Eagles at Brookvale 27-14. But in the next two rounds, the Raiders conceded 126 points, 70 to the Knights and 56 to the Roosters. At least Canberra scored 52 points...

The Raiders would recover and go on to qualify for the finals... only to be bundled out in the first week. But 2006 was golden, in one way at least. Remarkably, the Raiders won four matches that season in golden point.

Two of them were against the Wests Tigers, in the space of just a month. In Round 19 at Canberra Stadium, the Raiders and Tigers were tied at 18-18 for the final 14 minutes of the match, both teams twice missing field goals. In the fourth minute of extra time, Todd Payten was penalised for a strip on Adam Mogg. The Wests Tigers insisted it was not a two man tackle... but Clinton Schifcofske kicked the penalty goal from 34 metres out to secure the dramatic 20-18 win.

In Round 23 at Campbelltown, the Tigers were celebrating the final home game for the retiring John Skandalis. A try to Adam Mogg and a conversion from Schifcofske in the 76th minute put Canberra in front by 18-16. But then a penalty to the Tigers allowed Scott Prince to equalise and force the game to extra time. Prince was twice in a position to kick a winning field goal, but Todd Carney rushed out of the defensive line to charge them both down. And then in the final minute of the first period of golden point, Carney kicked the winning field goal from 38 metres out. The Fox commentary famously claimed the Raiders had "stolen" the match and that they did not deserve to win. The home crowd claimed Carney was off side, but replays showed that was not the case.

Carney also kicked a golden point field goal in Townsville against the Cowboys. It had been a horrible, grinding - but tense - match. The Cowboys threw everything at the Raiders in the last 20 minutes in order to break the 14-14 scoreline, but the Raiders' defence held grimly on. Carney’s field goal attempt from 40 metres out in the 87th minute was a horrible, wobbly looking kick... but it still went over and gave Canberra the 15-14 win.

The best of them was in Round 4 against the Penrith Panthers - right after those horrible losses to the Knights and the Roosters. Canberra led 14-8 at half time, but surrendered the advantage, with second half tries to Frank Pritchard and Rhys Wesser giving the Panthers a 20-14 lead. At the death, David Howell scored a try, and Clinton Schifcofske kicked a magnificent conversion from the sideline to send the match into golden point. Preston Campbell had failed with a field goal attempt in regular time, and Craig Gower also failed with several attempts. But Schifcofske was again the hero, kicking a one pointer in the 87th minute.

The four remarkable golden point wins were the difference between the Raiders making the finals and finishing in the bottom four.

2006 Round 4 - Canberra Raiders (Adam Mogg 2, David Howell, Tom Learoyd Lahrs tries, Clinton Schifcofske 2 goals, 1 field goal) 21 defeated Penrith Panthers 20 (Lee Hookey, Luke Lewis, Frank Pritchard, Rhys Wesser tries; Preston Campbell 2 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Canbera Raiders: 1. Clinton Schifcofske 2. Adrian Purtell 3. Adam Mogg 4. David Howell 5. Craig Frawley 6. Jason Smith 7. Lincoln Withers 8. Andrew Lomu 9. Simon Woolford 10. Michael Hodgson 11. Tom Learoyd Lahrs 12. Jason Croker 13. Alan Tongue

14. William Zillman 15. Ben Jones 16. Troy Thompson 18. Trevor Thurling

Coach Matt Elliott

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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20. Wiki's final games



2004. The Canberra Raiders were in a struggle to make the top eight. They had produced four straight losses, heading into their final match of the season against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Canberra. The Round 24 loss to the Roosters had seen the team fall to 12th on the ladder. A win, and a big win, was needed in Round 26 to ensure they could leap frog the Wests Tigers into eighth place.

That Round 26 clash -against the Rabbitohs - was the final home game for the legendary Ruben Wiki - who was tempted away from the club after 12 years by the Warriors. It was revealed later that the Warriors offer was inflated by salary cap cheating - but it was all too late by that stage. It was an emotional night, with Luke Davico and Joel Monaghan also having decided to leave the club. The Raiders were determined to give Wiki the home send off he deserved.

And they did more than what they had to do. Canberra led 22-12 at half time and went on to post 40 points in the second half. Marshall Chalk scored four tries in only his second first grade appearance. Clinton Schifcofske scored 20 points himself.

However, Wiki suffered severe ankle ligament damage in the first half, and was forced out of the match. After the game, he was on crutches but did a lap of honour. Tears streamed down his face, as he embraced the true believers in the crowd of just over 10,000. It looked like he had made his last appearance in the famous green jersey. But ankle ligament damage was not enough to stop a player who bled green.



He took the field in Week 1 of the finals against the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium in jersey No. 22, his ankle supported by a plastic cast. He played for 74 minutes, made 25 tackles and 10 hit ups. It was Wiki at his best. But it was not enough. The Raiders lost 38-12 to the minor premiers. Wiki was consoled by former team mate, and Roosters coach, Ricky Stuart after the match.

"I don't think any other player would have played, but Ruben felt he owed it to the guys," Simon Wooford said later.

"It was an emotional day," Clinton Schifcofske said. "I'm a pretty emotional bloke and cry fairly easily, but there were a few bigger blokes than me crying that day."

"I just so much wanted to be part of it," Wiki himself said. "I'm just glad I got to put the jersey on one more time."

2004 Round 26 - Canberra Raiders 62 (M. Chalk 4, J. Croker 2, M. McLinden 2, B. Drew, A. Mogg, C. Schifcofske tries; C. Schifcofske 8, J. Croker goals) defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 22 (M. Minichiello 2, R. Bell, B. Watts tries; J. Williams 3 goals) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Clinton Schifcofske 2. Marshall Chalk 3. Adam Mogg 4. Joel Monaghan 19. Nathan Smith 6. Jason Croker 7. Brad Drew 8. Ryan O'Hara, 9. Simon Woolford (C) 11. Ruben Wiki 14. Michael Hodgson 12. Ian Hindmarsh 13. Tyran Smith

10. Troy Thompson 15. Josh Miller 16. Terry Martin 17. Mark McLinden

Coach Matt Elliott

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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19. Amazing record comeback

The Canberra Raiders came back from 22 points down, twice in their first 40 years. There has still never been a bigger comeback.

In Round 7 of 2015, the Raiders produced their biggest ever comeback to defeat the Wests Tigers 30-22 at Leichhardt Oval. Canberra was down 22-0 after 25 minutes, with a gale benefiting the Tigers. Tim Simona, Keith Galloway, Luke Brooks and Pat Richards all crossed for tries in front of 13,198 baying Tigers fans.

But tries to Shannon Boyd and Jarrod Croker before the break brought Canberra back into contention - and Canberra trailed by 10 at half time. The scores were levelled after four pointers to Frank Paul Nuuausala (45th minute) and Jack Wighton (64th) - and Canberra only went ahead 24-22 in the 68th minute through a Croker penalty goal. The Tigers had a try disallowed in the 76th minute, before Jordan Rapana scored in the last minute for a stunning eight point victory.



In terms of drama, however, that comeback was outdone in 2016. In Round 17, the Raiders hosted the Newcastle Knights at Canberra Stadium. Twenty-two points were conceded in the first 25 minutes of the game. The Raiders faced considerable adversity in the first half due to injury. Jordan Rapana, Shannon Boyd and Jarrod Croker all left the field at various stages. When Rapana went to the sheds, the Knights wreacked havoc down the right side. But there was also no doubt. The Raiders were clearly out-enthused by the Knights in the opening stages.



Then came the comeback. Blake Austin scored just before half time - and the Raiders trailed 22-6 at the break. Jack Wighton scored 10 minutes into the second half. A double to Jarrod Croker, brought it back to 24-24 by the 76th minute. The Raiders took the lead in the 79th minute through a Blake Austin field goal - and coach Ricky Stuart thought his team had it won. But then the Knights easily regathered the ball from a short kick off. They marched up the field to set up a Trent Hodkinson field goal. That tied the match 25-25 and forced golden point.

The Raiders missed two field goals in extra time. The tension was unbearable. The two teams had fought out a draw after extra time, earlier in the year. In the 85th minute, Blake Austin missed another drop goal, with the ball sailing well wide. The hearts of the Canberra crowd sank. But then the miracle bounce, just inside the dead ball line, happened. Jordan Rapana chased, hard, and the ball fell into his arms. It was the most golden of tries and the most golden of wins.

Ricky Stuart's decision to send Rapana back onto the field after suffering a shoulder injury had proved to be critical.

"Ricky said 'if I put you on I can't take you off, the only way you're going to come off is in a coffin'," Rapana said after the match.

2016 Round 17 - Canberra Raiders 29 (Jarrod Croker 2, Blake Austin, Jordan Rapana, Jack Wighton tries; Jarrrod Croker 3, Aidan Sezer 1 goals; Blake Austin 1 field goal) defeated Newcastle Knights 25 (Jake Mamo, Peter Mata'utia, Sione Mata'utia, Korbin Sims tries; Trent Hodkinson 4 goals; Trent Hodkinson 1 field goal) at Canberra Stadium

Canberra Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Brenko Lee 3. Jarrod Croker (c) 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 16. Paul Vaughan 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliott Whitehead 18. Shaun Fensom

8. Junior Paulo 13. Luke Bateman 14. Kurt Baptiste 17. Joseph Tapine

Coach Ricky Stuart

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40 Years - 40 Moments

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18. Canberra Raiders open new Bruce Stadium with a win over the Dragons

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The Raiders moved to the redeveloped Bruce Stadium the year after the miracle 1989 Grand Final victory. The farewell match at Seiffert Oval in 1989 produced a 16-6 win, but few expected Canberra could go on to take the title. The new premiers returned to Canberra in 1990, playing St George in the opening game of the season on a Friday night in front of a then record crowd of 22,527. It was a real celebration, a carnival, with the crowd repeatedly performing the Mexican wave.



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Ricky Walford scored early for Saints, but the Green Machine subsequently swamped the men in red and white. The match was notable for an innovation from Tim Sheens - where numbered cards were held up on the sideline to signal the set moves he wanted run at crucial stages. NSW general manager John Quayle intervened at half time and banned the cards, claiming Canberra was "coaching from the sidelines", though they were later allowed outside the playing area. The system worked, with two tries from set moves from penalty taps. As fireworks blazed on full time, the Raiders had run out victors 26-10. Brad Clyde was the man of the match. Ricky Stuart's kicking was superb, and the Raiders whole backline was electric.

Round 1 1990 - Canberra 26 (B. Clyde, L. Daley, M. Meninga, R. Stuart, M. Wood tries; M. Meninga 3 goals) defeated St George Dragons 10 (R. Walford 2 tries; R. Walford goal) at Bruce Stadium

Canberra: 1. Gary Belcher, 2. Paul Martin, 3. Mal Meninga (C), 4. Matthew Wood, 5. John Ferguson, 6. Laurie Daley 7. Ricky Stuart 8. Brent Todd 9. Steve Walters 10. Glenn Lazarus 11. Gary Coyne 12. Dean Lance 13. Brad Clyde

14. Phil Carey 15. David Barnhill

Coach Tim Sheens

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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17. Stuart's bitter-sweet, medal winning season... and biggest ever win

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In 1993 Ricky Stuart took out both the Dally M Player of the Year and the Rothmans Medal for Best and Fairest, due recognition for a stellar season. He recorded one of the highest vote tallies (30) in Rothmans Medal history. He was the third player to achieve the Rothmans Medal-Dally M double. Stuart also won the Dally M Halfback of the Year and the Dally M Players' Player award.

He had to collect his awards on crutches.

In the second last round of the season, the Raiders led the Parramatta Eels 30-0 at half time, and the Green Machine was 40 minutes away from a record 68-0 victory. It is still the biggest ever winning margin in the club’s history. That afternoon the Green Machine scored 12 tries - five in the first half and seven in the second - and David Furner kicked 10 goals. No team had won by a bigger margin in 58 years.

But the match was probably most important because of the incident that took place just a minute after half time. Stuart, the Raiders key play maker, went in to assist in a tackle. It ended with his right leg caught, twisted. He left the field on a stretcher, his right ankle dislocated and fractured.

The Raiders led the competition after that game - and late in the season, it had seemed that they were poised for a run to another premiership. But those hopes vanished without Stuart. The Raiders lost their final three games of the season, going out backwards in a short finals campaign.

"I just wish I would have taken the advice of Tim Sheens at half time," Stuart would reflect later.

"He said to me come off and have a rest because we’d had a pretty hectic season. I said 'give me 10 more minutes and I will come off'. I ended up breaking my leg and having a full reconstruction on my ankle. I still take that into account when I’m coaching now and I tell a player to come off the field."

"It was the best year of football I had, I hit a purple patch and couldn’t do anything wrong," Stuart said.

"It was one of those years where you’d chip kick and the ball would bounce back to you and you would catch it in one hand… we should have won the comp that year."

"Where it hurt the club was all my talk and organisation in attack and defence. It certainly wasn’t my defensive ability."

Raiders Immortal Mal Meninga was in no doubt about how important Ricky Stuart was to the Green Machine.

"I was on the field when he did it," Meninga recalled later. "He was in excruciating pain – his foot was skew-whiff. It was terrible. That put a real dampener on the season for us. We struggled after that. We lost in the last round, and went straight out of the finals with back-to-back losses. That's how good a footy player he was."

Raiders’ fullback Brett Mullins was involved in the tackle when Stuart was injured.

"To watch him go off… the sheer pain on his face was terrible," Mullins said.

"We were on a roll that year, but that put a dull in the camp. Bloody oath it affected us; people who say it didn’t are lying. You can tell by the way we went when he wasn’t there. He led us, he was always a couple of rucks ahead. It obviously affected us."

1993 Round 21 – Canberra Raiders 68 (Sean Hoppe 2, Mal Meninga 2, Laurie Daley 2, Jason Croker 2, Trevor Schodel, Noa Nadruku, Brad Clyde, Brett Mullins tries; David Furner 10 goals) defeated Parramatta 0 at Bruce Stadium

Coach Tim Sheens

Canberra Raiders: 1. Gary Belcher 2. Noa Nadruku 3. Mal Meninga 4. Brett Mullins 5. Sean Hoppe 6. Laurie Daley 7. Ricky Stuart 8. Quentin Pongia 9. Steve Walters 10. John Lomax 11. David Furner 12. Brad Clyde 13. Jason Croker

14. David Westley 15. Trevor Schodel 16. David Boyle

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

Post by Seiffert82 »

Ricky Stuart in 1993 certainly had one of the most dominant individual seasons I've ever seen. That team was packed with star players, but he was immense.

The premiership that got away.

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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Trevor Schodel is the odd man out in that team of big names!
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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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Considering Wiki also made his debut in 93 that list was epic.

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Re: 40 Years - 40 Moments

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16. Record points haul… and how Campo almost matched Meninga



The Canberra Raiders were wooden spoon favourites at the start of the 2008 season, a team of no-ones, with Neville Costigan (Queensland Origin) their only representative player. William Zillman and Phil Graham were lost to season ending knee injuries early in the season. Lincoln Withers did not play after Round 9 and Michael Weyman played just seven matches.

In July, half Todd Carney was sacked after string of misdemeanours. When he refused to agree to a rehabilitation plan which included a ban on alcohol, the Raiders' board was left with no option but to cut him loose.

The first match of the post Carney era was the Round 22 clash with the Penrith Panthers. Midway through the first half, it was 12-12. But by half time, things were looking grim for the Panthers, who faced a deficit of 38-12. By the end of the match, the Raiders had scored 74 points, the most in a single match to this day. It is still Canberra's equal second biggest winning margin, at 62 points. The Panthers have still never conceded more points in a match.

It was all led by Terry Campese. Handed the role of chief play maker, Campese scored four tries and kicked 10 goals. He and Marc Herbert had a field day. Trevor Thurling got a hat trick. It was that sort of day, everything came off. There were 13 tries in all.



It had been snowing when the players warmed up, and only 6,500 hardy souls turned up for the landmark match.

Campese could have equalled the club record for most points in a match - held by Mal Meninga (five tries, nine goals, 38 points in the 1993 thrashing of the Roosters). However, late in the match, captain Alan Tongue offered rookie Marc Herbert a shot at goal, a reward for an outstanding performance. He was oblivious to the record on offer for Campese. Herbert kicked the goal... and Campese would have too... but it meant Campese would finish the day on 36 points.

"I feel very, very bad about that," Tongue said after the game. "I had no idea. Campo gave me the evil eye when he walked into the dressing shed. I just said to give Herby a go, his confidence is sky-high and that is obviously pretty disappointing on my behalf. But he didn't know, we weren't talking about it out there so he had no idea."

"I didn't even think of it," Campese confirmed. "When you're playing good footy like that and all the team is playing good footy, I think that is the last thing on your mind - breaking records. Tonguey came and apologised but it honestly doesn't bother me. I think he said because Herby is the next (goalkicker) in line and he was man of the match to give him a kick and put him on the scoring list."

"Guys like Mal and Furnsy have been around the club for many years and I've only been here for a few, so it doesn't bother me to be second in line to guys like that. Just even to be in the record-breaking line is unbelievable, considering the talent that has been at the Raiders for years before this."

Alan Tongue was full of praise for Campese’s performance.

"If he keeps doing what he's doing at the moment and improving at the rate he is, a rep jumper's definitely not out of the question," he said.

"He's always been confident in his ability, but he's just come along so much with the more first grade games he's played. He's consistently been in there now the last couple of years and I think he's getting smarter with the way he plays his footy."

"There's no doubt we're going to miss Toddy's football brain and what he added to the side, but we've had to move on as a group and I think Terry's shown that he's ready to step into that leadership role, especially in the halves."

Half Marc Herbert was awarded man of the match, but even he felt Campese may have been more deserving.

"Campo is absolutely killing it," Herbert said. "I was man of the match but I think he will be player's player, and I don't know if I deserved it. He played great and he's been playing great at the back end of the season. I've been playing with him for a while and this is as good as I've seen him play and I think he will continue it. I feel terrible about what happened at the end. I didn't realise and the boys chucked the ball to me, so I took the kick."

The team was in a purple patch of form and the start of a late charge to the finals.

2008 Round 22 - Canberra Raiders 74 (Terry Campese 4, Trevor Thurling 3, Justin Carney, Tom Learoyd Lahrs, David Milne, Joel Monaghan, Dane Tilse, Alan Tongue tries, Terry Campese 10, Marc Herbert 1 goals) defeated Penrith Panthers 12 (Michael Gordon, Rhys Wesser tries, Michael Gordon 2 goals)

Canberra Raiders: 1. David Milne 2. Colin Best 3. Adrian Purtell 4. Joel Monaghan 5. Justin Carney 6. Terry Campese 7. Marc Herbert 8. Troy Thompson 9. Glen Buttriss 10. Dane Tilse 11. Joe Picker 12. Marshall Chalk 13. Alan Tongue

14. Trevor Thurling 15. Josh Miller 16. Tom Learoyd Lahrs 17. Neville Costigan

Coach Neil Henry

Crowd: 6,500
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