BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders have been better lately.

Not perfect, but definitely an improved outfit. Each week there’s more and more of the things we like. It’s resulted in wins over the Bunnies, the Storm and the Titans. They were competitive for a half against the best the Tigers could offer. Nothing spectacular, but three wins in four to stabilise a season that was skidding out of control.

Now they are faced with the ultimate test. The Panthers of 2026 are by far and away the best, most consistent side in the competition. The reintroduction of uncut Vlandoball has suited their style of play, allowing them to lean on their powerful backs in yardage, their talented edges in attack, and the understated brilliance of the NRL’s answer to Tom Brady’s chin.

Last season when the Raiders were at their best, and the Panthers only just getting back into that space, it took one of the great performances for the Milk to succeed. Many will remember the post and Strange and Weekes and maybe even the French commentary. But what is sometimes overlooked is that Canberra were better, so much better. The only reason they didn’t win in regulation was their frustrating inability to close the deal. Good thing that never came back to bite them. Excuse me while I cry into my keyboard.

Can this Canberra be that Canberra? Does this Panthers side carry the vulnerability of last years? It’s a complicated question. This season’s Milk, even in their best moments, hasn’t found the control of the middle, nor the effectiveness of their edge defence. Their best defensive outing in their recent run was against a Titans team that didn’t so much ask questions but rather sighed in the Raiders general direction. Even then it took the Titans comically butchering chances, and some admittedly exquisite cover defence, to keep the opposition to a low score. The Panthers will not be so kind.

And with their injury list resembling a child’s birthday wish-list, the Raiders simply don’t have the horses. Forget last year – they’re not even as well stocked as when they were losing games like they desperately needed a kitchen implement made of the finest, cheapest timber.

The result is the patchwork mob that pulled out a victory is still driving the ship. Hudson Young brings some needed relief, and hopefully Ethan Strange is ready to play. People are in better positions. But they’ll still be playing Jayden Brailey at 13, Simi Sasagi at backrow and have a bench lighter than my wallet (do people still have wallets?).

So can this rag-tag bunch of misfits defeat the big bad? Well, probably not, but maybe! The ‘Riff have come back to the pack a little as the yellow whacky waving arm guys have settled down. While Canberra have been winning three of four, the Riff have been in a similar spot, struggling to defeat the Phins, losing handsomely to the Dogs (for some reason), before pantsing a Knights team and squeezing past the Sea-Eagles. They’ve not looked vulnerable – they never do. But maybe instead of Michael Jordaning the whole show, they’ve been a bit more normal.

Maybe there’s a chance here. An opportunity to pick up a victory when a more fancied opposition is focused on bigger things. Weirder things have happened right? No? Oh. There’s no understating how big a deal a victory would be. Entering the first bye at evens would be a miracle, salvaging a solid position out of shaky ground, and providing a platform for a real launch through the second half of the year. Given all they’ve been through it would be a boon. Losing wouldn’t undermine that, but have I told you how winning is better than losing?

In conclusion

A mixture of “what if they just won” and “fuck around and never find out” so I can call it the Mother’s Day Miracle.

Raiders by 1

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