An enthusiastic crowd welcomes the Raiders NRLW side onto GIO Stadium for their first home game. Photo: Tim Gavel.
With tears in her eyes as the siren sounded on the Raiders’ first NRLW game at GIO Stadium, Katrina Fanning’s emotions reflected what was felt around the ground.
The fact that the Raiders defeated competition heavyweights the Roosters 24-14 last Saturday (29 July) in front of just over 8000 fans was second behind the magnitude of the moment.
That moment has been years in the making.
The players obviously realised the significance as their post-game on-field celebrations were akin to a premiership victory.
The long lines of fans waiting for a signing session was further evidence that the team has been embraced by the community after just two games.
The Raiders kept the Roosters scoreless until midway through the second half. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Good luck to coach Darrin Borthwick in keeping a lid on it as the side prepares to face the ladder leaders, the undefeated Wests Tigers, on Sunday afternoon (6 August) in a double header with the NRL.
Borthwick, it has to be said, has done an incredible job with this team. He has only had a short time to bring the group together.
As one of four new teams in the NRLW this season there was naturally an expectation that they would be a work in progress.
Watching the team closely last Saturday, it was patently obvious that plenty of work has been done off the field to establish a culture within the player group.
I came away from the game with a number of highlights: the bone-jarring defensive effort of centre Mackenzie Wiki, the organisation of lock Simaima Taufa, and the toughness of fullback Apii Nicholls.
When Grace Kemp crossed the line for the Raiders NRLW team’s first home try, the crowd erupted. The team had drawn the fans into the game through their impressive attacking football.
Borthwick praised the way they had stuck to the game plan.
At times, in the second half, that plan looked like coming unstuck as the team failed to complete sets and gifted possession to the Roosters, allowing them back into the game after the Raiders established an 18-0 lead.
This alone should be enough to keep things in perspective two games into the season. But the team showed that it has the skills, determination, character and talent to make their first NRLW season a memorable one.
The Raiders will play the Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium on Sunday 6 August. Gates open at 1:20 pm, NRLW Round 3 kick-off is at 1:50 pm and NRL kick-off is at 4:05 pm.
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