David EdwardsWho wants to be a Raider??
April 7th 2008 05:00
The question must be posed.
The Canberra Raiders - the 1980's/90 powerhouse rugby league team, a team who boast a 26 year history which includes 3 grand final victories and countless international players, are struggling to keep players and coaches at the club.
After witnessing their 32-12 capitulation at the hands of a Titans outfit that basically just had to turn up to Skilled Stadium on Saturday night to be assured of the 2 competition points, i (an ardent Raiders fan) am slightly worried about their future in the NRL.
While Michael Weyman's brain snap (not his first) drew a send off and possible weeks on the sideline, he struck a blow which was symbolic of the frustration of the Raiders outfit and their legions of supporters. While Weyman's fists did the talking that he is obviously incapable of, he struck a blow that resonated with all Raiders fan. The feeling of impotence, the feeling that little to nothing can be done to ressurect this once feared outfit.
Raiders fans stand by year after year and watch their best and brightest swap clubs, and generally go on to make names for themselves after being bought up in Canberra - one of the best junior development areas in the code. Big clubs are prepared to buy young Raiders players who are showing glimpses of their rich potential, and Canberra are forced to let these promising youngsters (usually Junior Kangaroos) go.
We have to look at the push and pull factors here, why wouldn't anyone want to be a Raider? The club is a one team area, and enjoy passionate support from their loyal base in the A.C.T. Players are isolated from the manyhem that occurs in Sydney, and it is a good place for players to settle down and raise a family.
However in this day and age players are lured by the Sydney clubs, promised a lifestyle change and incentives that come with living in the Sydney area. Exposure is important to these young players, and Sydney clubs (and successful clubs) get television exposure, enhancing their players chances of recognition and representative honours. The Raiders are a mere after-thought to many league commentators, with most (particularly Phil Gould), seemingly unaware they are even in the competition - so enamoured he and many are with a cluster of about 3/4 clubs. The only time the club gathers any attention is when there is an on-field indiscretion, or at the beginning of the season when everyone picks them for the wooden sppon. Canberra is a cold place too, and is geographically not a place where young men want to be, so obviously this plays a part - young men prefer Bronte Beach to Queanbeyan Leagues Club.
However Neil Henry's decision to leave the club last week signified possibly the lowest point for the Raiders, and showed that hanging onto talent is simply impossible for the Green Machine these days. Henry leapt at a 5 year deal from the Cowboys, just weeks after Todd Carney decided to stay in Canberra - knocking back several lucrative offers from other clubs - on the basis that Henry was the coach. The lack of loyalty shown by Henry - firstly to the Raiders, and secondly to Carney - is an indication that the landslide exodus from the Raiders is here to stay. Their premiership chances in the long term are being continually harmed by these losses, and every season is a "rebuilding season". With the loss of 2 high-profile coaches in recent times - what is there to say a coach will ever achieve a long tenure at the Raiders again?
How can a club that was so successful such a short time ago have become the place where players and coaches make their name, and then leave for greener pastures? What can be done to prevent this disloyalty, the fickle nature of modern rugby league?
If there is an answer, i don't know it. The game is continuing to become Americanised, and players leave for the fatter contract, the chance of representative honours, and the party lifestyle that young league players crave. As we saw last week on the Footy Show, Sonny Bill Williams openly expressed his disappointment at Willie Mason's decision to leave the Bulldogs - a decision Williams found to be disloyal to both the club - and to himself.
As for the Raiders, it seems just too hard to compete at the moment. Clearly there is just not enough money in the game to keep players at clubs for their whole careers. But then when you look at American sport, or the English Premier League - you see that loyalty isn't even worth a pinch of salt to players - where it is not uncommon to play for about 5 or 6 clubs throughout a career.
Gone are the days where a Canberra player would play out a career at the club. Gone are the Daley/Meninga days. We saw those days end long ago. Upon us now is the era of disloyalty - where a player will leave the club that gave them so much at the drop of a hat.
Hopefully the Raiders can pull through and put on a decent performance this season. Personally, i won't be holding my breath the way i used to.
The Canberra Raiders - the 1980's/90 powerhouse rugby league team, a team who boast a 26 year history which includes 3 grand final victories and countless international players, are struggling to keep players and coaches at the club.
After witnessing their 32-12 capitulation at the hands of a Titans outfit that basically just had to turn up to Skilled Stadium on Saturday night to be assured of the 2 competition points, i (an ardent Raiders fan) am slightly worried about their future in the NRL.
While Michael Weyman's brain snap (not his first) drew a send off and possible weeks on the sideline, he struck a blow which was symbolic of the frustration of the Raiders outfit and their legions of supporters. While Weyman's fists did the talking that he is obviously incapable of, he struck a blow that resonated with all Raiders fan. The feeling of impotence, the feeling that little to nothing can be done to ressurect this once feared outfit.
Raiders fans stand by year after year and watch their best and brightest swap clubs, and generally go on to make names for themselves after being bought up in Canberra - one of the best junior development areas in the code. Big clubs are prepared to buy young Raiders players who are showing glimpses of their rich potential, and Canberra are forced to let these promising youngsters (usually Junior Kangaroos) go.
We have to look at the push and pull factors here, why wouldn't anyone want to be a Raider? The club is a one team area, and enjoy passionate support from their loyal base in the A.C.T. Players are isolated from the manyhem that occurs in Sydney, and it is a good place for players to settle down and raise a family.
However in this day and age players are lured by the Sydney clubs, promised a lifestyle change and incentives that come with living in the Sydney area. Exposure is important to these young players, and Sydney clubs (and successful clubs) get television exposure, enhancing their players chances of recognition and representative honours. The Raiders are a mere after-thought to many league commentators, with most (particularly Phil Gould), seemingly unaware they are even in the competition - so enamoured he and many are with a cluster of about 3/4 clubs. The only time the club gathers any attention is when there is an on-field indiscretion, or at the beginning of the season when everyone picks them for the wooden sppon. Canberra is a cold place too, and is geographically not a place where young men want to be, so obviously this plays a part - young men prefer Bronte Beach to Queanbeyan Leagues Club.
However Neil Henry's decision to leave the club last week signified possibly the lowest point for the Raiders, and showed that hanging onto talent is simply impossible for the Green Machine these days. Henry leapt at a 5 year deal from the Cowboys, just weeks after Todd Carney decided to stay in Canberra - knocking back several lucrative offers from other clubs - on the basis that Henry was the coach. The lack of loyalty shown by Henry - firstly to the Raiders, and secondly to Carney - is an indication that the landslide exodus from the Raiders is here to stay. Their premiership chances in the long term are being continually harmed by these losses, and every season is a "rebuilding season". With the loss of 2 high-profile coaches in recent times - what is there to say a coach will ever achieve a long tenure at the Raiders again?
How can a club that was so successful such a short time ago have become the place where players and coaches make their name, and then leave for greener pastures? What can be done to prevent this disloyalty, the fickle nature of modern rugby league?
If there is an answer, i don't know it. The game is continuing to become Americanised, and players leave for the fatter contract, the chance of representative honours, and the party lifestyle that young league players crave. As we saw last week on the Footy Show, Sonny Bill Williams openly expressed his disappointment at Willie Mason's decision to leave the Bulldogs - a decision Williams found to be disloyal to both the club - and to himself.
As for the Raiders, it seems just too hard to compete at the moment. Clearly there is just not enough money in the game to keep players at clubs for their whole careers. But then when you look at American sport, or the English Premier League - you see that loyalty isn't even worth a pinch of salt to players - where it is not uncommon to play for about 5 or 6 clubs throughout a career.
Gone are the days where a Canberra player would play out a career at the club. Gone are the Daley/Meninga days. We saw those days end long ago. Upon us now is the era of disloyalty - where a player will leave the club that gave them so much at the drop of a hat.
Hopefully the Raiders can pull through and put on a decent performance this season. Personally, i won't be holding my breath the way i used to.
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Comment by Mick D
I believe the raiders are capable of doing a "storm" and go places with these youngsters. I remember a few years back back when the likes of Cameron Smith, Hoffman and Dallas Johnson were relative unknowns.
But stability is definitely needed and you're right to say that loyalty is a prerequisite for that.
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