Corey Horsburgh up against the Panthers in May this year. The Panthers won 30-18. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
This season, the Raiders have again won more games away from home, with three wins on the road, compared to just one at Canberra Stadium.
In the past seven games at home, taking into account last season when they went down to the Broncos and the Sharks, the Raiders have won just one of their past seven at GIO.
The only victory at home this season for the Raiders has been against the Storm.
In stark contrast, in the 2025 regular season, the Raiders lost just one game at Canberra Stadium, and that was to the Bulldogs, when Stephen Crichton lifted his side to overcome a 20-to-nil halftime deficit.
Ethan Sanders and Kaeo Weekes celebrating a try in the game against the Penrith Panthers. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
For some unknown reason, with virtually the same lineup, albeit impacted by injury, the Raiders have struggled to win home games this season.
Mistakes, more than anything else, are killing any momentum, which appears to be what the modern game is all about.
Last Thursday night’s loss to the Dolphins highlighted several issues, including a lack of ball security, missed one-on-one tackles, and uncertainty under the high ball.
Sure, the 50/50 decisions appeared to go against Canberra, but when you invite the opposition in as many times as the Raiders did against the Dolphins, you are going to be punished.
A cauldron-like atmosphere developed on Thursday night, with the referee as the main target, but again, missed tackles and spilled possession were the reasons for the defeat.
It was the same against the Panthers. The Raiders were very much in the contest, only to be outclassed by the brilliance of Nathan Cleary. A couple of missed tackles proved crucial.
Penrith Panthers’ Nathan Cleary. Photo: Jaye Grieshaber.
That game in particular showed the Raiders are on par with the better teams, but the inconsistency must be frustrating for Ricky Stuart.
He has tried a few things over the years, including reminding the players who they are playing for and the strong connection the club has to the community.
In 2016, the team prepared for home games by staying in a hotel in Canberra, using it as their base for the weekend.
David Furner used it in 2012, in the run-up to the finals, when the team stayed on the outskirts of the city at Eagle Hawk.
The mental grind of the week-in-week-out season can be telling almost as much as the physical.
At the same time, it is difficult to understand how a team can have better results away from home.
After a 10-day layoff since their last match, the Raiders return to GIO this Sunday to take on the Cowboys. Get your tickets from Ticketek.
Original Article published by Tim Gavel on Region Canberra.
