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Canberra RaidersThe Canberra Raiders are a National Rugby League team based in Canberra, Australia. The Raiders were admitted to the NSWRL (New South Wales Rugby League) competition in 1982. They were the first club outside of Sydney to be admitted to the league, as they started their first national expansion in 1982. Their initial team colours were Green and White. They hadn't initially named the team, however the name Raiders was coined by the media in describing the new Canberran team, and was adopted as the formal name. In 1981, before their admission to the league, the Raiders held a competition for the design of their football jerseys, which saw the original green jersey design, by winning entrant Ms Patricia Taylor. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is a viking. The viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking. The Raider's home grounds were Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan (1982-1989), and currently Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Canberra (1990-) Within a few years, the Raiders had signed up a mixture of interstate talent such as players Mal Meninga, Dean Lance, John 'Chicka' Ferguson, Ashley Gilbert and Chris O'Sullivan. Additionally, the Raiders had signed some young local talent, whom later moved through the ranks to become some of the most talented and respected players in the league, such as Laurie Daley, Glen Lazarus, Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde. Seasons 1982 Their first season, 1982, was not particularly fruitful for the club. They had lost the majority of games they had played, but the introduction of a national Rugby League team to Canberra had generated enormous appeal for the football code, which had little support in the national capital until this point. 1982 season statistics | Games Played!!Won!!Drawn!!Lost!!Points For!!Points Against | | 6 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 269 | 862 | 1985 In 1985, the Raiders played off against South Sydney Rabbitohs for 5th spot on the national ladder, however the team lost, taking 6th. This was the first high position on the ladder for the fresh team, and signalled progress. After the season was over, the Raiders signed a high-profile Queensland player named Mal Meninga, who would go on to become the Raiders' most decorated player. The 1985 off-season also saw the signing of such unknowns as Gary Belcher, Peter Jackson, Sam Backo, Steve Walters and Gary Coyne. 1985 season statistics | Games Played!!Won!!Drawn!!Lost!!Points For!!Points Against | | 4 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 432 | 534 | 1987 In 1987, the Raiders made it to their first Grand Final. They played against the Manly Sea-Eagles, and lost 18-8. 1987 saw the signing of player Laurie Daley, a Junee boy who only played two games in this year, but would go on to be one of Canberra's best. 1988, in which Daley played the whole season, also saw the signing of 19-year-old Bradley Clyde, a schoolboy Rugby League player who played the second half of the 1988 season, as well as Ricky Stuart, an Australian Wallabies Rugby Union player who had changed codes to Rugby League to play for the Raiders in 1988. 1987 season statistics | Games Played!!Won!!Drawn!!Lost!!Points For!!Points Against | | ||0||0||0||0||0 | 1989 They again found themselves in premiership contention in 1989, against the Balmain Tigers. They were trailing at half time, with the scores locked at 12-2, before dominating the scoreboard in the 2nd half, to level the scoreboard at 14-14 at full time. The game went into extra time, in which the Raiders won their first premiership, 19-14. 1990 In 1990, the Raiders again made the grand final, against the Penrith Panthers. The Raiders won 18-14. This was the final appearance for three of their most experienced players - John Ferguson, Chris O'Sullivan and Dean Lance, who all retired this year. 1991 1991 saw controversy for the Canberra team, as they were found in breach of the league's salary cap and fined, adding to the team's financial woes, putting them $6.5 million in debt. They had been hoping to capture three league premierships in a row, however their hopes came unravelled as they fell short against contenders Penrith Panthers, losing 19-12. 1994 It was not until 1994 that the Raiders had another chance to take their 3rd premiership, against rivals Canterbury Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were minor premiers for the season, and the Raiders were considered the underdogs. The game ended with Canberra winning by a large margin, the Raiders taking the game 36-12, after scoring their first try in only the 3rd minute of the game, due to a Canterbury Bulldogs error directly after kick-off. Raiders captain and highly respected player Mal Meninga made the Canterbury Bulldogs win his last game, bowing out and later being appointed Raiders' coach. 1995 Through seasons 1995 and 1996, the Rugby League was embroiled in a battle for control by two different organizations, the Australian Rugby League, and Superleague, controlled by Rupert Murdoch. Due to the agreements which the Raiders held with Superleague, their players were unable to play representative football between these seasons. 1998 In 1998, highly respected and talented Raiders players Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde left to join the Canterbury Bulldogs. Equally respected players Luke Priddis left to the Brisbane Broncos, and Brett Hetherington to the North Queensland Cowboys. This began the cycle of fresh and enthusiastic new players into the Raiders team, who - being a relatively new team - had held many of their key players for some time now. Lifetime statistics The following table shows the Raiders' overall win/loss record, at the end of season 2003. | Games Played!!Won!!Drawn!!Lost!!Points For!!Points Against!!Win Rate | | 21 | 283 | 9 | 229 | 11206 | 9509 | 54.3% | Sources http://rleague.com/history/
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