There’s something different about Canberra this year. It’s not just that they’re sitting near the top of the ladder—it’s how they’re doing it.
The Raiders, often overlooked by fans and pundits, are quietly building one of the most impressive campaigns of 2025.
And they’re doing it without a marquee playmaker (at least before he was linked to Manly), a superstar fullback, or a spine of household names.
In an age of highlight reels and headlines, the Raiders are winning games with old-school ingredients: grit, discipline, and unity. It’s the kind of football that might not always dazzle, but it gets the job done—and in the end, it’s the only kind that wins premierships.
Ricky Stuart has built a side that fights for every inch. With the departure of Jack Wighton a couple of seasons ago, and Elliott Whitehead at the end of last season, many questioned whether Canberra had the class to stay competitive.
Instead of collapsing, they’ve rallied. New faces like Ethan Strange, Kaeo Weekes and Matty Nicholson have stepped up with maturity beyond their years, and their performances have shown that heart and belief can count just as much as experience.
Their forward pack has been the foundation of their success. Joseph Tapine continues to lead with quiet dominance, Josh Papali’i is winding back the clock, and the likes of Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh bring the kind of aggression and intent that sets the tone.
Week in, week out, they win the middle – and everything else flows from there.
But it’s not just power. It’s discipline. In seasons past, Canberra were their own worst enemies –with errors, penalties, and defensive lapses.
This year, these have been ironed out. Their edge defence has tightened, their communication is stronger, and their game management is more mature.
It’s clear they trust each other. It’s even clearer they trust the process.
There’s a Christian principle at play here: greatness doesn’t always look like what the world expects. In Scripture, God often works through the underestimated – the youngest son, the tax collector, the fisherman.
In rugby league, we tend to assume the path to the trophy must go through million-dollar men and highlight-reel heroes. But the Raiders are reminding us that the ingredients of greatness often lie in humility, hard work, and self-sacrifice.
They’re not a team of stars. They’re a team that plays for each other.
That kind of unity can take you all the way.
While other clubs ride the rollercoaster of form, Canberra have found something more stable: identity. And in the NRL, knowing who you are – and sticking to it when the pressure builds – is half the battle.
Will they win the comp? It’s hard to say. But can they win the comp? Absolutely.
They’re battle-hardened, grounded, and hungry.
They might not have the flash, but they’ve got the fight – and when it comes to finals footy, that’s the stuff that conquers.