We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
An analysis of each team’s NRL draw, with matches against top-four and top-eight teams from 2022 as well as free-to-air games and five-day turnarounds.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Top-four opponents – 5, top-eight opponents – 8, five-day turnarounds – 1, free-to-air matches – 8, bye rounds – 8, 16, 20.
The Raiders play only eight matches against last season’s finalists, only doubling up against Cronulla, with just one match against all other top-eight sides.
It's the moment of skill that would have NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler thinking, "What if?".
Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton's offload put his Australia winger Valentine Holmes over in the corner in one of a few key moments that sent the Kangaroos through to the final of the Rugby League World Cup.
The Kangaroos went on to win 16-14 in a nail-biting Test match, with Australia into the final against either England or Samoa.
The 29-year-old was a shock omission from the Blues' State of Origin III side this year - a game Queensland won to seal the series.
The 2023 NRL draw is good news for the Raiders on several fronts – and for fans of the Green Machine.
The Raiders score eight free-to-air games, will face only one team in the top eight from 2022 twice, and take on the new team, the Dolphins, in Wagga Wagga.
The Raiders beat the Sharks twice in 2022. In 2023 they will face them twice, including Canberra’s opening home game in Round 3 on Sunday, 19 March.