BY ROB, VIV, AND THE SPORTRESS CREW

They may have fallen just short of finals honours, but the Canberra Raiders NRLW team demonstrated that they’re a force to be reckoned with in coming seasons. An eclectic mix of NRLW veterans and young blood rookies played some of the most enterprising football that we’ve seen from any team in green for quite a while.

If there is one thing we can all agree on it’s that 9 rounds is just not enough time to watch these players do their thing. Within two months and a week the regular season was done, and the whole thing will be concluded inside three months. We do have to acknowledge that the women’s game is still in semi-pro/expansion transition, and it will be several more years before they reach season/comp size parity with the men’s side of things (not to mention pay and sponsorship!).

I’ve given Viv and Dan the task of supplying input for season specifics, so without further ado let’s crack on!

Top Three Moments

Rob

1. Win #1 at home

After a slightly disappointing start against the Sharks in round 1 the Raiders hosted competition heavyweights the Roosters in Canberra. 70 minutes of solid attacking footy and reasonably resilient defence saw the women in green victorious, their first ever win coming in front of a modest but vocal home crowd.

2. Maddy Bartlett scores against Sharks

It took Canberra 33 minutes and three conceded tries before they finally bagged their first ever points in an NRLW match courtesy of Maddy Bartlett. Attacking the Sharks line the Raiders quickly shifted left, getting the ball to Nicholls who in turn threw an ace pass to the hands of Bartlett, who demonstrated her craft by curving into the in-goal to bring the conversion in closer.

3. Bench-busters: Kemp and Matua light ’em up

Not so much a singular event as it was an actual pattern, but the injection of Matua and Kemp off the bench regularly proved to be a turbocharger for the Raiders in 2023. Kemp’s effect on the game was evident in round 1, when she shored up the middle against the menacing Sharks. Matua took slightly longer to find her rhythm, but once she did she terrified opposition defenders.

Viv

1. Grace Kemp scoring our first try at home

Rob already mentioned our first home game as a highlight of the season and I was able to make the trip down from Brissie and be in attendance. The whole day was unreal, being there for the first (official) viking clap, getting the W and to top it all off, the first Raiders NRLW home try being scored by local sensation Grace Kemp. The try was scored by her taking on the line at close range and barging over the line with Roosters playing clinging on for dear life. I knew she was going to make an impact on this club as soon as she jumped over from rugby union and it’s great to hear that she has confirmed she will be a Raider in 2024.

2. Oh Captain My Captain

Simaima Taufa *publish blog* What is there to say about Taufa’s efforts for the Raiders this season? She ate metres up like she didn’t know where her next meal was coming from. Her tackle efficiency this season was 95% and she scored two tries for her troubles, one involving her running half the length of the field. Even in our last game against the Titans, our only points came because Taufa simply decided to charge up the field and put the Raiders in a position to score. Off-field, her commitment to the team was there from day one, stressing the importance of strong team culture on and off the field. In NRLW its important to fire from game one and Taufa was a big part in making that happen.

3. Weeks 2-5 – We are gonna win the comp

A 9 game regular season is a massive leap from the first season of NRLW (2018 had four rounds total, including the grand final) its still a short enough season that it’s important that teams get wins quickly if they want to be playing finals. My expectations for this season were modest, but when we found ourselves with four wins in a row half way though the season, I genuinely thought we were gonna bring it all home. Our team had quickly been able to click into gear, score some excellent points and keep their heads in golden point. While we didn’t get there this time, I have every faith we will learn these lessons and come back bigger next year. Up the milk!!

Dan

1. The first Viking Clap

I know Rob already mentioned Canberra’s first try in the competition, but what was better is what came after it. It being that beautiful month of July where teams concoct choreographed celebrations, the Raiders women jumped into formation and completed a perfectly performed Viking clap. Out of sheer fortune (of happening to be in Sydney that weekend, of having a friend kind enough to drive my ass to the Shire, and of happening to be the only Raiders fan in that corner of the ground) I got to be a part of it (grown man does Viking clap by himself). One of my favourite Raiders moments ever.

2. Shak Tungai smashing fools

This happened a fair bit so choose your favourite version. I didn’t know a lot about Shak before this season but what I saw I loved. She’s a proper footballer. Maybe she wasn’t the quickest winger in the competition but she was beyond fearless. Her impression of defence was like a linebacker coming off the edge, streaking in towards unsuspecting ball-runners. Brutality, thy name is Tungai.

3. The shift

By the opening rounds of round five the Raiders had established that they were a team worthy of contending for the finals. It was impressive start but it still felt like they were finding their way, a team that had only just met (because a lot of them only just had). Then in the opening moments against the Eels they ran the perfect shift, a structured play run as smoothly as if they’d been working on it for years. It felt like almost every player in the team touched the ball, there was a *perfect* run-around as the decisive moment, and Maddie Barlett found her way in yet again. Chef kiss stuff.

Lowest moment

Rob

The Broncos reality check

For five rounds the Raiders had fended off all opposition bar the Sharks, besting the Roosters, Dragons, Tigers and Eels. Riding a magic carpet built on four straight wins Canberra traveled to Brisbane to face the Broncos. Over the next 70 minutes the Raiders were given a lesson in league as the Broncos matched them, gained the upper hand and then ran rampant, scoring 40 points to the Raiders paltry 8.

Viv

Round five vs the Parramatta Eels – opportunities missed

In the lead-up to this game, I was expecting the girls to put on a big score but after getting out to a strong start, we let the Eels back into the game and ended up only winning by six points. It was disappointing for two reasons, at the time I knew that a better team would not let us slack off in the second half. (see Rob’s entry above) Secondly, with hindsight, not being clinical in this game meant we had extra pressure on ourselves going into the must-win game against the Titans last week.

Dan

Round four v the Dragons

We’d beaten the Roosters and Tigers in back to back weeks. This team was pure joy to that point, and I still thought they could be serious contenders and was ready for them to show it against a Dragons side they were much better than. Instead they struggled early, got into a game dominating position, flushed that away, and then failed to work their way to the field goal towards the end of the game. When Zehara Tamara slotted the field goal to win the game in golden point she was almost sheepish that it had got that close. You know it’s a good season when winning is a bad moment, but that game was proof people like me were getting ahead of themselves and the team had plenty of growing and learning to do.

Best Rookie

Rob

Cheyelle Robins-Reti

CRR brought her tenacious spirit to the Raiders NRLW foundation squad and deservedly picked up the Rookie of the year honours at the Raiders awards night. She may have only bagged four tries across her nine appearances, but each one reinforced a different facet or skill in her game. Whether it’s holding formation as a support runner for Nicholls, or brushing past multiple Eels, CRR has the strength and determination to muscle over the line.

Viv

Grace Kemp

She came over from rugby union and did not miss a beat, coming off the bench to start the season and eventually getting the opportunity to start in the front row. Every time she got the ball it would take 3, 4 or 5 defenders to bring down her 187cm frame and was the master of the late offload creating opportunities for her team. (third highest amount of offloads in the comp actually) She’s signed for another year and already has her eye on rep footy. An honourable mention to Emma Barnes, I think if she stayed injury free this season she would have been in the discussion for this award for sure.

Dan

Kerehitina Matua

What a find. How often can you match a secret rib-rattling bruiser with someone an agile as a thong-less foot on a hot beach? This season she covered everything on the middle and edges and brought a mismatch for whoever was opposite. Too agile for the big people, too big for the dancers. She could do both, as witnessed by what should have been her first try when she pranced and powered her way through half a defence and just forgot to do the easy bit. There’s a huge amount of upside here, because next year she’ll still be her, only more experienced.

A special mention to Maddie Barnes who’s going to be a star, but was held back this year by a broken jaw. Seems it was going round the Raiders this year.

Best Player Overall

Viv

Simaima Taufa

Our first signing and inaugural captain, she led from the front inspiring the team with her on-field performances. Statistically, she led the way in running metres (146 metres/game) and tackles (95% efficiency) Even in our game against the Titans, it was Taufa who simply decided to break the line and run halfway down the field and laid the platform for our only points. Off the field, the club awarded her the NRLW Player of the Year and listening to her talk about her commitment to these girls and our community shows why she is held in such high regard. This team would not have been as successful as it was without her leadership and we are lucky to have her.

Dan

Zahara Temara

You can quote the stats if you want. Fifth in the league in points, goals, line engaged, kick metres. One of the only players to kick a 40-20 and a field goal. 11th in try assists, 9th in line-break assists. They paint an adequate picture of someone at the top of their game.

But you didn’t get it if you didn’t have the eye test. To understand the way she controlled this side. If Taufa was its engine, then Temara was the conductor, pointing the club in the direction of the try line, the sun around which every attacking move orbited. Her kicking game was almost always exemplary, a weapon that other clubs didn’t have. Her cool head one of the few quiet minds in Canberra’s inexperienced side. Emerging from Raecene McGregor’s shadow this year, Temara proved herself a star.

Rob

Shakiah Tungai

Shak is the type of veteran footy player every team needs. Her inventiveness on the wing either leads to points or at the least more possession. Not just a capable runner of the ball she can also put it on her toe, kicking for support on the inside. She’s also a sturdy defender, an essential trait especially out on the edges. Shak’s been in the NRLW since its inception and the Raiders are very lucky to have her. She also has killer suits for formal occasions.

All in all it’s been a tremendous start for the Canberra Raiders NRLW side. They’ve got the brains, skills and athleticism to go further next year, and we three simply can’t wait to see what they produce in 2024 – possibly their first ever premiership.

You can follow Rob on Twitter here. For other great takes you can follow Viv here, or you can do us a solid and like our page on Facebook,  or share this on social media. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.