Raiders Fans Urged to Plan Ahead as Seiffert Oval Braces for Massive NRL Trial Crowd

Canberra Raiders supporters have been advised to plan their travel and possibly leave work early, with a bumper crowd anticipated to fill the stands at Seiffert Oval for the club's opening NRL trial match in less than two weeks.

Logistical Challenges and Community Spirit

The Green Machine will host the Melbourne Storm next Friday afternoon at 4:30pm, a mid-week kick-off time that could pose logistical headaches for fans. Despite this, more than 6000 people are predicted to descend on the Raiders' humble spiritual home for this pre-season clash.

The Canberra Times can confirm that 3000 tickets have already been sold, with prices starting at just $10. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Kenrick Winchester expressed confidence in a strong turnout, recalling a previous instance where the club provided a humorous permission slip for fans during a tricky kick-off time.

"I remember a little email came out from Mr Furner not that long ago when there was a tricky kick-off time, and he provided a permission slip for fans, so if he's thinking of doing something similar, the council will support that, for sure," Winchester said.

Festival Atmosphere and Infrastructure Upgrades

The club is preparing for a footy festival atmosphere, complete with food trucks, a jumping castle, and opportunities for fans to get up close with players on the field after the game. To accommodate the large crowd, multiple entries will be open on game-day.

However, with limited parking around Seiffert Oval, the club is encouraging fans to use public transport from Canberra, shuttle buses from Riverside Plaza, and the Queanbeyan Leagues Club where possible.

Seiffert Oval has recently undergone improvements, including brand new $600,000 change rooms opened in August. A big scoreboard and replay screen will also need to be brought in to meet NRL standards for the trial match.

Raiders' Ambitions and Player Updates

Fresh off winning a minor premiership last year and on track to set another membership record after hitting 20,000 members on Tuesday, there is significant buzz around the Raiders ahead of the 2026 NRL season.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner stated the squad is "up and about" and ready to begin their quest to end a 32-year premiership drought. "We aim to win the comp this year," Furner declared. "I reckon we were the most exciting team to watch last year and we've got a very good, young, fast team that will be around for a couple of years, and that's what you need to win a comp."

The Raiders' first two rounds of the regular season are in Manly and Auckland before their opening home game on March 19 against the Bulldogs, making this trial a crucial opportunity for fans to see the NRL squad in action locally.

"It's my favourite suburban ground. You don't get to sit this close at any major stadium in the NRL," Furner added. "I know Ricky [Stuart] and the players love coming out here [to Seiffert Oval]."

Contract Negotiations and Veteran Focus

Furner provided updates on player contracts, noting that forward duo Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies are still finalising their deals, a process that has carried over from last year. He expressed confidence that there are no issues, stating, "[Smithies] and Ata will be fine. I don't see any dramas popping up there. It's just about lodging [paperwork]."

Regarding veteran Josh Papali'i, who is on a one-year deal, Furner said both the experienced prop and the club are focused on the upcoming season, with no talks yet about future arrangements. "He's just getting through pre-season. It's not the right time to talk to him. You never say never, but we're looking forward to having him back," Furner explained.

He humorously added, "Joe Tapine wouldn't have let me not sign him for another year. So he's definitely there for 2026 but who knows in '27."