Monday Bunker: Why Raiders are serious premiership contenders
Canberra have officially shed their dreaded ‘Faders’ tag and are genuine NRL premiership contenders. That’s the belief of the Monday Bunker crew following the Green Machine’s flying start to the season.
Raiders
Don't miss out on the headlines from Raiders. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MONDAY BUZZ: Panthers are a shadow of Griffin’s team
EARLY MAIL: Sharks young gun cops suspension
Canberra have officially shed their dreaded ‘Faders’ tag and are genuine NRL premiership contenders.
That’s the belief of the Monday Bunker crew who were full of praise for the Green Machine following their fifth win from six matches against Brisbane to usher in the new season.
The Raiders started the year as outsiders to break their 25-year title hoodoo, but an influx of Englishmen and a hardened attitude has propelled Ricky Stuart’s troops to equal first on the NRL ladder.
WATCH THE MONDAY BUNKER CREW DISCUSS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
MORE NRL NEWS
MONDAY BUNKER: HAS STORM’S SUPREMACY BEEN SURPASSED?
MONDAY BUZZ: WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS
Having seemingly rectified their inability to win tight matches – typified by Sunday’s 26-22 home defeat of Brisbane – the Raiders have found themselves entering the premiership conversation.
Speaking on Monday Bunker, News Corp columnist Peter Gleeson had no doubts there’s something brewing in the nation’s capital.
“They’re absolutely premiership contenders this year,” Gleeson said.
“It’s a real cauldron down there (in Canberra) and let’s face it, the Broncos were right in that game up until the last 15 minutes.
“Ricky Stuart is doing a fantastic job down there with the Bateman buy, Hodgson there at hooker, and that strong Pommy influence.”
Panel member Robert Craddock boasted the new-look Raiders outfit were a class above the struggling Broncos.
WATCH THE MONDAY BUNKER CREW DISCUSS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
“The thing about Canberra, they’re just winning those close games rather than losing them and the size and the pace of them,” Craddock said.
“They looked bigger than Brisbane didn’t they. They looked to have more grunt and power. It’s quite exciting.”
Monday Bunker host Tim Gilbert was in awe of the Raiders who temporarily led the competition prior to a late Jack Bird try.
“They were a few points away from leading the competition on for-and-against and that would have been the first time they would have done that at this time of the year since 2005,” Gilbert said.
“Big things are happening in the nation’s capital.”
Originally published as Monday Bunker: Why Raiders are serious premiership contenders