After a turbulent season, made up of a sporadically performing but super talented roster, constant coaching speculation and the loss of the right to call our home ground the fortress it once was, most Raiders fans watched Friday night’s game against the Bulldogs hoping for a win, but really expecting the magic late-season run to finish.
Through a quirk called ‘the NRL Broadcast deal’ (or as I like to call it, the NRL non-broadcast deal), the game ended up on the same night as our local primary school trivia night.
The trivia night organisers, knowing that Channel Nine never, ever, ever give the Raiders a Friday night free to air game – and not being able to plan because Channel Nine don’t (currently) have to do the fans the favour of actually telling them which games will be played at what time until just a few weeks before – went ahead and put the night on a Friday.
And we got the Friday night game…
So – with a room full of Raiders fans, unable to access their smart phones because they were at a trivia night, the boys went about their business.
As the night rolled on and round after round of trivia whirled past (the guess this lyric round proving a lot more difficult than it looked on paper) the trivia master – realising he had some twitchy people in the audience – started updating the score.
“Just a little half time score ladies and gentlemen, 24-6 to the Raiders.”
Surely he’s joking. A murmur went around the room, “Well, it’s only halftime, it’s our Raiders, there’s always time to lose with our boys”.
“30 – 6 ladies and gentlemen, 14 minutes to go.”
Murmur increases, “There’s still time to lose – this is the premiership favourites and we, well we, are the Raiders.”
“Late try to the Raiders, final score 34-6,” (I might point out that the trivia master is an AFL man and, even worse, an Essendon man, so you can understand his delivery was fairly understated).
The reaction? Cheers, whoops, statements about daring to dream.
No wry smiles, shaking heads and disbelief that our team – those guys who we’ve loved, sat in near snow to watch and complained about and supported all season at the same time – chose the night that we were locked in a primary school hall to deliver what they should have been delivering all year.
Oh well, at least I got to go home and listen to Ray Hadley commentate the last 15 minutes that were on delay.
See what I mean – trolls all round!
Matt
Guest
Has campese ever played a whole season? I'd rather someone who turned up game after game then someone who is better but often out.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Well, the Tigers got a flogging in the wrong game, so a smallish loss is now sustainable even if Melbourne rolls over in RD26
Gordon Faumui
Guest
Loyalty has been my biggest challenge as a raiders fan. My question is not the players but goes to the Raiders Coach. I believe we need a change of direction given that we have had a roster in the making for the past five years and yet we still have not had a consistent performance in a season for our boys. Game strategy and team moral needs to improve to get a solid team and players that will play for one another week in week out win or lose. Furner has had his years to accomplish this and yet has not achieved. We need Change for next season onwards with a coach that will re inject what the raiders of the past brought to us the fans. We need it. (Change)
Cosmos Forever
Roar Rookie
no anger from this fan, just perplexed that they have not been able to put it together, injuries aside. Many of the games had nothing to do with the injuries, rather the effort on the field. looking forward to the finals though
PuntPal
Roar Pro
I think the Raiders performances this year have been unfairly judged. The Raiders have had a horrible run of injuries and it was only in recent weeks that we have consistently put a solid team on the park. Dugan has missed a ton of games, Campese out all year pretty much, same with Brett White. If any other team lost their chief play maker, captain and spiritual leader for the season, they would have bombed out big time. Imagine Storm without Cronk or Cowboys without Thurston...they would be struggling too. I think the Raiders turnaround should not be seen as something to be angry about by the fans (i.e. "We should have done this all year"). Rather, this is a team that faced adversity, regrouped and are now the talk of the competition as one of the form team heading into the finals. The Raiders fairytale could all be for nought if they lose to NZ next week, which is a distinct possibilty given the pressure on NZ to end this season on a high note.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Yeah, as soon as we'd got it in the bag i.e. with about 45 seconds to play, I was working on scenarios so we could survive a loss in Nu Zullund next week. The Tigers may fall to Melbourne in R26, but unless that turns out to be a walloping, a loss to Easts today is required as well. Can't see the Donkeys losing to Penrith.
Cosmos Forever
Roar Rookie
Thanks eagle, yes, expecting a heartbreaking loss next week ;) And I've been asked to alter paragraph three to read "The charming & attractive trivia organisers" there you go Mrs Cosmos ;)
eagleJack
Guest
Great read. Raiders fans must be a resilient bunch. Absolute world beaters one week. Reserve graders the next. On their day I give them a real chance in this finals series. But they must beat the Warriors next week, a game they should win easily. But it is those types of games they usually lose.