With the release of the 2018 NRL draw today we take a look at the home matches at GIO Stadium.
Round 2 Raiders v Knights
The Raiders kick off their home campaign in round two against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday the 18th March at 6:30pm after a seven day turnaround from their round one clash against the Titans. The Knights will almost certainly have a new look side compared to the one in 2017. The Novocastrians have been known to cause a few headaches for the Raiders in recent seasons and the green machine will need a strong crowd to help them over the line when they get their home campaign underway.
Round 3 Raiders v Warriors
After a six day turnaround the Raiders face the New Zealand Warriors at home in round three on Saturday the 24th March at 3:00pm. The Warriors will have an extra day of rest, however they will be travelling from Auckland after playing their first home game of the season against the Gold Coast Titans. Raiders new signing Charlie Gubb will come up against his old side at GIO Stadium.
Round 5 Raiders v Bulldogs
Former assistant coach Dean Pay will make his return to GIO Stadium when he brings his boys from Belmore to the nation’s capital in round five Thursday night the 5th April. The match could pose a question for Ricky Stuart’s troops due to a short five-day turnaround from their round four clash against the Sea Eagles at Lottoland.
Round 6 Raiders v Bulldogs
The green machine will be able to breathe a little bit easier after the visit from the Bulldogs when the Eels travel down to Canberra in round six on Saturday the 14th April at 7:30pm. The Raiders will come off the back of a nine day turnaround while their opponents are not so lucky coming off the back of a six-day turnaround.
Round 9 Raiders v Titans
The Raiders will be on the road in rounds seven and eight although they will return to GIO Stadium for round nine when they face the Titans on Saturday the 5th May at 3:00pm. The green machine will kick off their 2018 campaign against the Gold Coast when they face them in round one at CBUS Super Stadium.
Round 10 Raiders v Sharks
Another home game in consecutive weeks for the Raiders when the Cronulla Sharks travel down from the Shire on Sunday the 13th May at 4:15pm. The visitors were too good when they last visited the nation’s capital and Ricky Stuart’s men will be looking to put things right in front of the home crowd.
Round 12 Raiders v Sea Eagles
After a trip to Mudgee to face the Dragons in round 11 the Ricky Stuart’s troops will have a tough ask when they back up against the Sea Eagles at home on Friday the 25th May at 6:00pm which will be a five day turnaround.
Round 14 Raiders v Panthers
On the plus side the Raiders will have a 14 day break with the bye in round 13. After that they will face the Penrith Panthers at GIO Stadium in rd 14 on Friday the 8th June at 6:00pm. Stuart’s men will be fired up for the occasion with the Panthers having claimed the past two encounters in nail biting circumstances.
Round 18 Raiders v Cowboys
The green machine won’t be back at home until rd 18 on Saturday the 14th July at 7:30pm. The Cowboys will ride into town on what is expected to be another chilly night down in the nation’s capital.
Round 22 Raiders v Tigers
Another break of three consecutive games from home will end when the Tigers visit the ACT in round 22 on Sunday the 12th August at 2:00pm. The Raiders have played well against the joint venture side in recent seasons and will be looking to continue that run in 2018.
Round 23 Raiders v Roosters
In round 23 the Roosters will pay the Raiders a visit when they clash on Sunday the 19th August at 4:10pm at GIO Stadium. The Roosters will be looking for a much happier visit to the ACT this time after the green machine narrowly edged them out in round 12 this year.
Round 24 Raiders v Rabbitohs
The final home game of 2018 will be on Saturday the 25th August at 3:00pm when the Rabbitohs travel down from Redfern. The green machine were ruthless against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium earlier this year when they ran out 32-18 winners at ANZ Stadium.
