The idea of Josh Dugan playing State of Origin this year will be a difficult one for some Canberra Raiders’ fans to grasp.
In certain Raider fan subsets it will be seen as a rank affront, the latest treacherous insult in a long and varied series of treacherous insults.
There may be some psychological distress, some dark mutterings, the odd intimation that the Furner brothers are running the Raiders’ ship up onto rocks. No matter. Emotional and spiritual fluctuations are all part of spectatorship.
For most of us, our first and most powerful response when watching sport is emotional.
My earliest memory of rugby league involves my brother crawling under his bed in the manner of a dog not far off death after Penrith beat Canberra in the 1991 grand final. He didn’t come out for a long time and when he did he was in some way diminished.
Twenty two years later they are still causing him great anguish. It pains him to follow them, yet he does so forensically. They drive him to aggressive distraction, yet he cannot quit them.
They ruin most of his weekends by putting him into moods so black that when he is out after a rude loss in what was most probably just one in a spirit-sapping string of rude losses people express concern and ask if he is alright because clearly he is not.
And while he claims to wish he could cut himself loose of them; somewhere, in the dark recesses of his brain and bone marrow, there is great love and tenderness for the Raiders. The conflict this creates – great and abiding loyalty overlaid with everyday weariness and woe – is essentially what makes him the quintessential Raider fan.
It’s complicated, this supporting a team business.
Dugan complicates things further. If he gets an Origin call up it will pose yet another challenge to the Raiders fan’s patience and sanity. Well, so what. Endure.
This is football, and football, like life itself, mostly consists of endurance and suffering. One vile task after another, punctuated by nasty little bursts of violence and small fleeting glories.
If you’re struggling to relate here (hi Storm fans!) it may help to think of Dugan as an ex.
You know how you don’t want to see them reduced to a quivering gelatinous mess without you, but you don’t want the bastard/bitch soaring to lofty new heights since being rid of you either? It’s a fine line and one which Dugan has already overstepped with crude insensitivity.
The trick to maintaining a healthy relationship with the Raiders is one which I seem to have applied to all facets of my life: a substantial lowering of expectations.
This means that I am less inclined to snap phrases such as “do I look like I had a good weekend?” and more inclined to make allowances for Jarrod Croker’s missed tackle counts. Which is nice.
There’s a certain serenity to be found in this lowering of expectations technique. I would suggest supporters of all the teams marinating in the bin-juices of the ladder’s lower end give it a try. Failing that, just find a bed to crawl under.
JessJessJessBo
Guest
Cannot believe I missed that photo - telephoto lens was on and everything was ready to go, but I was too gobsmacked to even think of it.
Dingo
Guest
Don't wet your panties Eleanor
Eleanor Kite
Roar Rookie
I mean I guess that will do...keep your goddamn profile low until then NO TIPPING ETC
Kris Swales
Expert
Kite, you'll be happy to know the flight out of the country is already booked, not so pleased that my dates and destination coincide with what will no doubt be a potentially soul-crushing Raiders visit to Auckland in Round 25.
Tom Gibson
Guest
Knock yourself out, Eleanor.
Eleanor Kite
Roar Rookie
He lost his pants too - also awesome
Eleanor Kite
Roar Rookie
You stay away from that stadium Swales they may have won last night but they don't need the extra strain your presence obviously brings. You might want to start thinking about leaving the country again too, around round 16 or so. For the good of the team you understand...
Eleanor Kite
Roar Rookie
If I get married NOTE THE IF can I incorporate parts of this into my vows Tom
Tom Gibson
Guest
I love your work, Eleanor but I have to disagree with lowering your expectations. If Dugan can be compared to your (lazy, selfish, good-for-nothing) ex, then following the Raiders must be a metaphor for being in love. And like love, you can't hold back! You have to believe in your loved one, have undying faith in their ability to make you happy, fight for them when others put them down and always be there to support them. Sure, your friends might think you are wasting your time and you will often end up crying yourself to sleep because you have once again been let down by their broken promises but that is what it takes. I believe I am a stronger person for always believing in them (I have never tipped against them - not even during 2011!) and will reap the rewards when they finally win the premiership (this year). UP THE RAIDERS!
planko
Guest
Usually Canberra waits the famous phase Tim Gavel "We are still a mathematical chance of making the semi's". Once Tim says this they are almost unstoppable. Silvertail yes it is cold in winter and a tad boring at times but I would prefer to raise my kids here than on the Northern Beaches where I grew up. Here I have a second house and a plan. There I have massive mortgage and I am paying interest only on a 900k mortgage. I go to my parents holiday house to get my beach fix
Meesta Cool
Guest
Last night I watched this young Canberra outfit completely outplay their opposition (Not for the first time this year), Looking at the back line I couldn't help thinking that within the next two seasons the salary cap will need it to be spread across the league.
Renegade
Guest
hahaha :)
Bluey
Guest
I hope Papalii gets picked for Qld. It took 20mins before he had his first run. He must've run about 6 times losing the ball twice and giving away a penalty - AWESOME!
Kris Swales
Expert
As a rule, the Raiders generally play better when I a) tip against them and b) don't watch the game, preferably because I'm c) in another country. But here I am, back from the 600km road trip to the bitterly cold area of the world known as Bruce last night with the fleeting taste of victory on my lips and feeling slowly returning to my feet. The Raiders are an addiction, and writing about them on The Roar is part of our 12 step program. God grant us the serenity, etc.
turbodewd
Guest
Cool story bro!
Silvertail
Guest
Canberras a hole, ( not the club) it's sterile , boring , look at the brumbies there top of there conference and no ones going to watch , I've said it before this place offers young energetic people nothing , unless they want to be public servant latte sipping gallery knobs , blokes like Ferie, Carney , Duges, go feral because there's NOTHING TO DO HERE !!!!!
Mals
Guest
Great read cheers! It's been a decade since my NRL team was propping up the bottom quarter of the ladder but I can relate with the a few recent seasons of the Waratahs. Raiders definitely top 8, potentially even top 4 if they can win a few more away games this year. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].