Canberra Raiders NRL News

Five weeks remain in the NRL season, with finals positions still uncertain and competitive.

Wide World of Sports

There are just five weeks remaining in the NRL regular season, but nothing about the finals picture is set in stone.

Canberra, Melbourne and Canterbury have looked to be a level above the rest of the competition for a large majority of the year, but all three sides have found themselves on shaky ground at least once in recent weeks.

The biggest movers have been Penrith, who were on the bottom of the ladder early in the season but are now within striking distance of the top-four.

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Sam Backo uniquely approached the Raiders, ready to play first grade despite not being signed.

Region Canberra

Sam Backo was cut from a different cloth than the average NRL player.

Legend has it that in 1983, Sam Backo walked into the Queanbeyan Leagues Club office of Don Furner, the Canberra Raiders coach at the time, and said he was ready to play first grade.

The Raiders hadn't signed Sam, but he had been on their radar since 1981.

As then secretary manager John McIntyre remembers, Sam was playing for the Valley Statesmen in the local second division as a teenager after coming back to Canberra from North Queensland.

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Zahara Temara blends professional footy with creative design, achieving significant milestones in her sports career.

Region Canberra

Professional footy and creative design isn't a career crossover most would expect, but for Canberra Raiders Women co-captain Zahara Temara, it just works.

'Zee' joined the Raiders in 2023 following five action-packed seasons with Sydney Roosters Women.

The halfback has seen plenty of highs in her sporting career so far. She represented Australia as a Jillaroo in the 2017 World Cup and 2018 Test Match against New Zealand, has competed in five New Zealand Māori All Stars games, and played for the Queensland Maroons in no less than seven Women's State of Origin matches.

But Zee says her most recent achievement is probably one of her proudest.

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