After the Canberra Raiders’ upset victory over the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night, the Green Machine have already marked themselves as one the favourites to take out this year’s premiership.
It’s no easy feat travelling to Melbourne to play the Storm any day of the week but to defeat the most consistent team of the past twenty years three times in a row tells us something big is brewing in the nation’s capital.
However, as the new 2020 draw was released a couple of weeks ago and the venues for the matches were announced, did the NRL completely forget about the 2019 runners-up?
Personally, I didn’t think much of it either however once NRL 360 started up again last week and Paul Kent mentioned the Raiders’ upcoming travel woes I thought to myself, what an absolute stitch-up.
Why is it that the teams not based in New South Wales (the Storm, Broncos and Cowboys) are allowed to play their “home” games at their home stadium but the Raiders can’t?
Why are the Raiders having to play their home games in Campbelltown?
Is it because it’s logistically easier for the Sydney-based clubs?
That shouldn’t matter! It’s a home game for the Raiders!
The travel that is now involved for the Raiders week in week out is quite outrageous. Having to fly back and forth from Canberra to Bankstown airport and to then bus from the airport to the stadium and back again straight after the match is pretty dismal.
On Saturday night coach Ricky Stuart couldn’t attend the regular post-match press conference as the team had to fly out of Melbourne as soon as possible due to incoming fog in Canberra.
George Williams goes for a run. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
If they weren’t able to land in Canberra the team would have had to fly to either Sydney or Wagga Wagga and then bus it back to Canberra, however they wouldn’t know if they were able to land in Canberra until they were in the air.
Luckily for the Raiders, they were able to land in Canberra but if they did actually have to divert then they wouldn’t have arrived back to base until 5 or 6 AM the following morning.
But this is what they’re going to have to do every week for the next five months or so.
They’re never going to have the opportunity to play in their home stadium this year.
The players are not going to have the opportunity to go through their regular match-day routines they’ve been doing for years, sit in their own locker room, play on the turf they’ve become accustomed to at GIO Stadium because they have to make their way up to Sydney play a ‘home’ game.
Whereas the Storm, Broncos and Cowboys will be able to do this nearly every second week.
Is it going to get to the point further in to the season that the Raiders are going to become burnt out from the travel involved? I hope not.
Based on last year’s performance I think they’re everybody’s second-favourite team (mine included)!
Are we not going to be able to witness the Green Machine at their finest towards the end of the season due this dismal decision by the NRL?
Don’t get me wrong, the NRL and Peter V’landys have done a terrific job in getting the NRL back up and running however this really irritates me.
I think more questions have been raised rather than answered.
Nick
Roar Guru
Honestly, it doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree. There is a cost to opening an additional stadium. Costs are to be kept at a minimum where they can. End of story. Security is still required to keep people like you out, considering you're a prime case to actually turn up and demand you can watch cause you don't have the virus, and your complete inability to process reason.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Don't agree. Canberra Stadium it is well maintained and ready to go. Given there are no crowds it would require minimal security and no catering. There is no difference between Canberra having to charter a flight to Campbelltown and opposition teams chartering in and out of Canberra on the same day. I see no reason why the Raiders can't have home games in Canberra. I suspect they will after round 10.
Nick
Roar Guru
Cost! It's about cost! for the next 9 weeks, all decisions are made because of an emphasis on cost. It just seems a very Sydney centric decision, probably made by CH.9 and Fox Sports so they don’t have to travel as far with their equipment. Yes! Obviously, and it makes sure that they can minimise their interactions with others to a bare minimum. You obviously can see the reasons why, so stop f'ing complaining. What a pack of whingers Australia is becoming.
At work
Roar Rookie
Just because the Warriors are doing a massive service for the benefit of the league, doesn't mean Canberra has to be inconvenienced and put out unfairly. One has nothing to do with the other. Allowing Canberra to play home games in Canberra (over Campbelltown) makes no sense from a Coronvirus perspective. It just seems a very Sydney centric decision, probably made by CH.9 and Fox Sports so they don't have to travel as far with their equipment.
Adam
Roar Guru
It means all the other years Ricky has complained he was breaking the bro code :laughing:
Nick
Roar Guru
Ah, so only the contenders get to complain? Wow.
Paul
Roar Guru
perhaps that's a question best answered when V'landys writes his memoir. As I said a tad earlier, I'm guessing it's political, perhaps based on medical advice. In other words, I've no idea. :happy:
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
" heavily influenced by medical & political figures" - makes MUCH more sense to play in Campbelltown than in the virus free ACT?????
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
They always use Murray's coach.
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
Canberra has had NO active cases for one month as of yesterday, so clearly it's not based on risk?
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
WHERE did you study geography? Oh, that's right - Queensland. Canberra to Campbelltown - 232.7 km Brisbane to Gold Coast - 77.8 km Yep, just about the same! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
The ACT Government has said they want to open the stadium for games.
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
We are surely talking about genuine contenders here? The Warriors would have been in the same position on the ladder if they stayed in NZ!!
MadgicSH
Roar Rookie
Aaand there you have the NRL's reasoning, gotta stop the Raiders!
Nick
Roar Guru
The right to whinge has been forfeited in perpetuity. The Warriors are playing their 'home' games 2000km from home, while in NZ there is currently ONE active case left.
At work
Roar Rookie
It's a bit of a farce, where my main issue (if thinking from a Raiders standpoint) is that they miss out on home ground advantage, which in the cold conditions of Canberra in Winter is a real challenge for travelling teams.
Nick
Roar Guru
In terms of travel times – Cronulla to Campbelltown – 60 minutes by road; Manly to Gosford – 85 minutes by road; Newcastle to Gosford – 78 minutes by road; Canberra to Campbelltown – 145 minutes by road. A wasted paragraph cause you knew full well the Raiders adw flying. You're better than that. As far as the Raiders home ground is concerned its ready to go – and the town is virus free – all it requires is for opposition teams to be chartered in and out There is a COST involved in opening a stadium up. The Raiders don't play there for free. The security doesn't work for free. The cost of bringing in additional technical and broadcast equipment isn't free. The cost of additional staff to man that equipment isn't free. The lights aren't free. For the next 10 weeks (at least) it is economically easier to have Canberra (and other clubs) centralise and go to Sydney. The end.
Nick
Roar Guru
Gold coast are playing at Suncorp. Longer drive door to door. They don't whinge.
Nick
Roar Guru
Nonsense. They've frequently in the past taken flights back to Canberra after the game. Particularly if they had the dreaded 5 day break during the Monday night footy years.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The point is it could potentially have been a 5 and 1/2 trip home arriving in at 3.30 am followed by a Campbelltown trip the following weekend. Hardly ideal. In terms of travel times - Cronulla to Campbelltown - 60 minutes by road; Manly to Gosford - 85 minutes by road; Newcastle to Gosford - 78 minutes by road; Canberra to Campbelltown - 145 minutes by road. But yes the chartered flights were a good innovation provided by the NRL. Should reduce the travel toll on the Raiders and other teams that use it considerably. But I'm still not convinced why the Broncos, Melbourne and Nth Qld are allowed to have home games but Canberra aren't. Guess the Dragons and Newcastle could be saying the same thing. As far as the Raiders home ground is concerned its ready to go - and the town is virus free - all it requires is for opposition teams to be chartered in and out.