31 March 2008

Raiders defeat Dragons

| Cameron
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The Raiders produced a top quality second half on Saturday night to defeat the Dragons in their first home game of the season, 21-14.

After a nervous start filled with plenty of errors, the Raiders rallied in the late stages of the second half to go to the break 2 points down. The second half saw the Green Machine shut out the dragons whilst posting two tries and a field goal to take the match by 7 points.

In his first home game since returning from a three year stint at the Roosters, Joel Monaghan produced a man-of-the-match performance that including two tries. Todd Carney also performed well despite some early errors and directionless play – his 40-20 kick gave the Raiders the boost they needed to take control in the second half.

Key player Phil Graham added to the Raiders injury woes when he went down with a knee injury during the match. He joins a long list of injured Raiders.

There was a decent crowd for the first home game of the season, with 14,400 piling into Canberra stadium. Several thousand fans were left outside the gates well into the match – most of them turning up 5 minutes before kickoff. This season the Raiders have discounted pre-purchased tickets to try and discourages buying tickets at the gate – a must given the large number of people that think turning up 5 minutes before the game is sufficient to be seated before kickoff.

Next week the Raiders will take on the Gold Coast Titans at their new home ground, Skilled Park on Saturday night at 7.30. The next home game will be on Sunday April 13th at 2pm against the Wests Tigers.

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There should be more windows for prepaid ticket pickups. All of the windows for buying tickets at the gate should be serviced by one line that feeds to them all (like a line for airport check-in).

Or, people could just buy memberships and walk right in 😉

“A suggestion for the ticketing staff, to save some frustration at the ticket booth.

Why not have a few lanes where the people with correct change (cash only) can file through at a faster pace. The set-up there the other night was a joke.”

Problem is, people would probably (either deliberately or not) ignore the signs saying “exact change only” – that’s just how people are. I don’t think it would make a huge difference.

The game against the Titans will certainly be a massive challenge – particularly now as half-hearted coaching will join key injuries as a weight on the shoulders of the green machine.

I finally realised the benefit of having a season ticket. I too turned up about 15 mins before kickoff, but I was able to waltz straight in. I usually try to turn up about an hour prior to watch at least the second half of the reserve grade. It look ominis for the Raiders next week, the Titans have been very good at home this year, aslthough they got a good rap in the match write up before they played the Dragons, with the author noting that the Raiders never give up. They will need to be firing on all cylinders this week.

A suggestion for the ticketing staff, to save some frustration at the ticket booth.

Why not have a few lanes where the people with correct change (cash only) can file through at a faster pace. The set-up there the other night was a joke.

I arrived at CS twenty minutes prior to kick off, made it through the gates by the 12 minute of game time. It was a piece of cake to get a beer though.

Have posted a news item re: the coaching, let’s discuss that there (the article will appear soon – maybe earlier if someone beat me to it).

Forty minute lineup? Eastern or Western entrance?

We turned up at 6pm, and whilst we’re members and we walked right in, the line was nonexistent at the eastern entrance.

We purchased our memberships in a group of over 20, so we got them for $125. 12 home games plus a hat and some other gimmicky stuff – plus the best bit, we walk right in every game.

It wasn’t just 5 mins before kickoff. My family and I turned up at 5.15pm so we could watch the under 20’s game and despite trying to pre-purchase the tickets (the Tradies had sold out) we had to line up for FORTY MINUTES. I wish they’d direct and control the line for the tickets more effectively because it was an absolute joke! Still, it was great to be part of a decent sized crowd and despite just about losing my voice yelling at the Raiders for the first forty minutes, the second half was pretty good.

Breaking news though, just heard on 666 that Neil Henry will be leaving the Raiders at the end of this season to go to Nth QLD. I think it’s an absolute joke that the NRL allows contracts to be negotiated this early in the season. I sincerely hope the boys can get on with it and not be too disrupted by what’s happened. Still, I think Dave Furner should be able to step up and do a good job.

Unbelievable how Canberrans just don’t seem to learn! Turn up 5 mins before kickoff = miss kickoff.

Yeah, i’m sure inner-bowl tickets were $18 last season, and they’re now $25.

That’s about a 40% increase.

they discount pre purchased tickets? it still cost $25!

Ha Thumper, try telling that to the Sydney based media, we could win the next 5 on the trot and they wouldn’t waver in their opinion of us as Spooners. Luckily we know better : )

Just to confirm, this weeks game against the Titans starts at 7:30pm Canberra time, which is 6:30pm local (QLD).

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