Over 22k seats sold. News from Canberra was initially that 1k standing room tickets would be sold but if it sells out today there are rumblings that temporary seating will go in and could take the crowd up to 28/29k (as was done in the Super 14 gf).
Tongue back for Raiders Canberra Raiders Co-Captain Alan Tongue has been named on the bench for the huge finals match at Canberra Stadium this weekend, after recovering from a calf injury which has kept him out for the past two weeks. Tongue’s inclusion in the seventeen will boost the Raiders bench, giving the Green Machine an experienced player who can cover a number of positions. Travis Waddell is the unlucky omission from the team for the match and he joins Danny Galea on an extended Raiders bench, with Trevor Thurling holding his spot on the bench after an impressive performance against the Panthers on Saturday night. Raiders Coach David Furner said the chance to play a home final in front of a packed Canberra Stadium is an exciting time for the players and expects them to be well prepared for the game come Friday. “We wont change too much in our preparation and it’s about the players getting focused on the game and enjoying the build up,” Furner said. “We’ll prepare for the match as we have all year and look forward to seeing plenty of green in the crowd for what is a huge match for the club.” CANBERRA RAIDERS V WESTS TIGERS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 7.30PM CANBERRA STADIUM NRL 1. JOSH DUGAN 2. REECE ROBINSON 3. JARROD CROKER 4. JOEL MONAGHAN 5. DANIEL VIDOT 6. TERRY CAMPESE (C) 7. JOSH McCRONE 8. TOM LEAROYD-LAHRS 9. GLEN BUTTRISS 10. DAVID SHILLINGTON 11. JOE PICKER 12. BRONSON HARRISON 13. SHAUN FENSOM 14. ALAN TONGUE (C) 15. TREVOR THURLING 16. DANE TILSE 17. SCOTT LOGAN 18. TRAVIS WADDELL 19. DANNY GALEA COACH: DAVID FURNER
****ing happy that Waddell is gone. If Buttriss isn't too ****ed he can play 80 mins at hooker and Tongue can just play a bit of lock towards the back ends. Better team imo. Also the chance that Mogg will come back in for Robinson.
Complete sell out as of about an hour ago. That includes 2500 standing room only general admission tickets. **** it'd be orsm to be at bruce on Friday night.
This'll surpass the 1994 crowd that was Mal Meninga's last match. Pretty pathetic to not sell out a 27000 seat venue in that long.
If the Raiders lose this match they ought to bear the Dragons' title of chokers IMO. They have pretty much everything on their side - Injuries, form, home ground, Tigers playing a gruelling 100 minute match last week (that alone should tip the scales in Canberra's favour).