LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Canberra Raiders surprised many in 2025, defying expectations by securing their first minor premiership in 35 years.
Before the season began, they were largely overlooked, yet they made a powerful statement by dominating the New Zealand Warriors on opening night in Las Vegas. The Raiders achieved victories over every team in the top eight, with the exception of the Canterbury Bulldogs, a match they led 20-0 at halftime before ultimately losing.
Their initial final against the Brisbane Broncos was one of the highlight matches of the season. The Raiders were leading 28-12 with about 17 minutes left when they were stunned by a comeback led by Reece Walsh after his return from the sin bin. The Raiders believed they had the victory secured on three separate occasions, only for opposing tries to be disallowed. A penalty after the siren equalized the match and sent it into golden point, where Brisbane emerged victorious.
Just six days later, they faced the Cronulla Sharks and were eliminated in straight sets. Despite Ricky Stuart being honored as Coach of the Year, the Raiders will need several players to step up for the 2026 season to advance further.