Raiders riding rollercoaster all the way to first finals berth

Three wins on the trot to the tune of a combined score of 101-26 have the Green Machine purring towards a first ever finals series in their fourth year in the NRLW.

Back in 2023, the Canberra Raiders stepped into the NRLW - with no history, no silverware, and an array of strong competition standing in their way.

They missed the finals narrowly in their debut season, finishing fifth as the top four qualified for the post-season, before sliding to seventh in 2024 and 11th last year.

As with any new team, there are bound to be a few ups and downs, and that has definitely been the case for the Raiders.

After winning their first two games this season, the Raiders then lost to the Roosters, Sharks and Cowboys to slip to 2-3.

“I think we had to have the start we did last year to find out about ourselves a little bit more," said coach Darrin Borthwick.

“If we keep working hard and have that belief, then we could give this competition a real shake."

Dominant teams like the Roosters and Broncos have been at the forefront of the
competition's success over the past few seasons, so it certainly took some by surprise when the Green Machine dominated the Broncos in Round 6.

“We’ve always known that we have the capability of doing it," said Raiders co-captain Simaima Taufa. “We’re going to be a gritty team; we’re going to be a tough team, and if teams are going to verse us, they're going to feel it defensively."

Fitted out with talent bursting from the seams, the Raiders have shown the NRLW how quickly a club can go from 0-100, potentially setting the standard for the league's future expansion.

"We've got some really good talent coming through our pathways, and our junior system right now is terrific," said Borthwick.

“We’re doing a good job on bringing those young girls through."

The Raiders are now eyeing off a showdown with the high-flying Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

“Week by week we are working really hard and our culture off the field as well as on the field is really good," said hat-trick hero Krystal Blackwell.

With narratives surrounding the ‘top-heavy’ nature of the competition, the Raiders are stepping up and challenging that idea head on, dominating powerhouse clubs and shaking up the league in the process.

Bring on the ladder leaders.