Canberra Raiders History

   + Club Index

Canberra was the first non-NSW club admitted into the Sydney premiership when the NSWRL done its first expansion outside of Sydney in 1982. The Raiders were up against Central Coast and Campbelltown to see who would gain the 14th place in the 1982 premiership. Going in Canberra's favour was being based beyond the outskirts of Sydney and had the financial support of one of Australia's richest clubs in Queanbeyan Leagues club. Opposition was met from some clubs because of the distance but Canberra pulled out an ace when they said they would pay all travelling expenses in the first couple of seasons. That ensured Canberra a place in the expanded Sydney premiership. Campbelltown's only line of attack was to take issue about the fog in transporting teams to the nations capital. Allowing Canberra into the 1982 premiership was the best thing ever done by the NSWRL as it gave the area its first football side. Before the Raiders became a powerful force, Rugby League was a distant No.4 football code after Rugby Union, Aussie Rules and Soccer. The introduction of the Raiders and the success they would enjoy after 1987 has ensured Rugby League is now the premier code in the nations capital. It wasn't all easy with Canberra flogged most weeks in 1982. Canberra became more competitive in 1984, making a play-off for 5th position, where they were beaten by South Sydney. The most significant move came during the 1985 off-season when Canberra officials lured Australian Test centre from Brisbane club Souths to play with the Raiders in 1986. Meninga's signing along with unknown players from Queensland, all would later play for Australia in Gary Belcher, Peter Jackson, Sam Backo, Steve Walters and Gary Coyne helped turn the Raiders around. Canberra struggled in 1986 but in 1987 would make the grand final, the last to be played at the SCG. After losing first week in the finals to Easts, Canberra hit back thumping Souths 46-12 and then knocked off Easts in the final 32-24 to play Manly in the grand final. Canberra lost 18-8 in heatwave conditions to Manly but shown enough they would be a force in years to come. While Canberra didn't win the premiership in 1988, three very talented footballers had emerged and would be three of Canberra's greatest ever. Junee's Laurie Daley played two games in 1987 but would played most of the 1988 season, local junior and Australian schoolboys star Bradley Clyde who played the second half of the 1988 season in the top grade and 1987 Australian Wallbies tourist Ricky Stuart who switched codes to play with Canberra in 1988, after very close to becoming a Tiger would play the second half of the season in first grade as well. With three new players emerging from virtually no where, Canberra was developing into a powerful force and despite finishing in 4th place in the 1989 minor premiership, it was no surprise they made the grand final. The 1989 grand final against Balmain was the greatest game ever with tension and class shown from the 1st minute to the 100th minute. Canberra came from 12-2 down at halftime to 14-8 with under two minutes to go before John Ferguson scored one of his trademark tries and Meninga's conversion levelled at 14-all. Canberra kicked an immediate field-goal in extra time and then replacement Steve Jackson scored a memorable try to seal Canberra's first premiership, the first time the Winfield Cup had left Sydney. Bradley Clyde, at only 19, won the Clive Churchill Medal after earlier in the year was player of the 1989 Test series against New Zealand. Canberra won the 1990 premiership, defeating Penrith 18-14 in the grand final with Ricky Stuart winning the Clive Churchill Medal. Mal Meninga captained Australia for the first time in 1990 with a broken arm to Wally Lewis. With Lewis controversially ruled out of the Kangaroo tour, Meninga captained the 1990 Kangaroos to Britain and France. It was a Stuart-Meninga special that won Australia the series with a Stuart 75m break and Meninga backing up to score. Poor management soured Canberra's 1991 season but still made the grand final despite Daley and Stuart playing on one leg. Canberra lost 19-12 to Penrith and was forced to offload key players. Canberra could have been torn apart but with captain Meninga and coach Tim Sheens re-signing for reduced amounts, the bulk of the Raiders side remained loyal. Canberra between 1992-94 produced both the NSW and Queensland captains with Daley and Meninga respectively captaining their states. The Raiders were back to the top in 1994 when they disposed of Canterbury in the grand final, winning 36-12. David Furner, son of original coach Don Furner, won the Clive Churchill Medal for a devastaing display. Meninga in his last game for Canberra captained the Raiders to his 3rd premiership and scored an intercept try. Meninga was named captain of the 1994 Kangaroos, the only player to captain two Kangaroo tours and play in four, he was joined by Daley, Clyde, Stuart, Walters, Furner and Brett Mullins on tour. Jason Croker's omission was one of worst in history, only topped by Wally Lewis in 1990, Wayne Pearce 1986 and Len Smith 1948. Canberra has not tasted success since Meninga's retirement. They came close in 1995 and 1997 but couldn't quite get into the decider. The harsh realities of modern sport hit Canberra in 1998 when they sacked Clyde and Stuart from the club, despite giving 11-years of great service. The Raiders have endured up and down times in the modern era with excellent seasons in 2000 and 2003 with mixed seasons around that. They qualified for the Finals in 2002 and 2004 only to sneak into 8th position and be bundled out by the Premiers.

Advanced Search