Hudson Young celebrating the Raiders win at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. Photo: Bronwyn Fagan.
As night follows day, at the start of the season so-called pundits write off the chances of the Raiders to make an impression on the premiership.
The Raiders’ 30-8 win over the Warriors in Las Vegas may have surprised the experts outside Canberra, but inside the ‘Canberra bubble’ expectations have been high with the emergence of a number of young players blooded in first grade over the past 12 months.
The element of youth brings with it enthusiasm, energy and pace, mixed with plenty of 50/50 plays, and this was on display in the victory over the Warriors as the Raiders built their game on ruthless defence, especially in the middle.
The Raiders defeated the Warriors in front of more than 45 thousand fans in the season opener in Las Vegas. Photo: Bronwyn Fagan.
The resilient defence would have been the most pleasing aspect of the win for coach Ricky Stuart given the inconsistency in that area over the past few years.
The line speed of the Raiders defensive effort ensured the Warriors had very little momentum in the middle.
There was a lot to like about the performances of Corey Horsbrough, Tom Starling and Zac Hosking in the forwards.
Matt Timoko and Sebastian Kris, Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes all started the season with intent while Xavier Savage showed he has toughened up and is far more resilient.
Timoko and Kris struggled to have an impact in 2024. If game one is an indicator, then they are back to their best in 2025.
How good is it to start the season with a fully fit Jamal Fogarty with the Raiders struggling in his absence in 2024?
Fogarty will be critical to the Raiders’ performance in season 25. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
Owen Pattie continues to make an impression. There is a bit of Harry Grant style to Pattie’s game. His pace and support play were exceptional in a short cameo.
One thing that impressed me was the variance in the Raiders’ attack, which had momentum provided by the middle forwards. Joe Tapine was exceptional.
The Warriors were thwarted continuously by defence, a defence which has proven to be brittle in the past.
I won’t be making bold predictions based on one game, but it’s obvious that the players are fitter.
The key now for Ricky Stuart will be to bring the players down from what has been an incredibly high start to the season.
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