Here is all you need to know about the Canberra Raiders 2023 Telstra Premiership draw.
The Lowdown
Teams they play twice
Dragons, Dolphins, Sharks, Knights, Broncos, Bulldogs, Warriors, Tigers.
Teams they play once
Cowboys, Panthers, Eels, Storm, Sea Eagles, Titans, Rabbitohs, Roosters.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Friday: 6 games
- Saturday: 9 games
- Sunday: 9 games
Turnaround time
- 5 Days: 1 game
- 6 Days: 6 games
- 7+ Days: 16 games
Byes
Round 8, 16 and 20.
Season shapers: Raiders
Opening month
The Raiders start the season in Queensland where they face the Cowboys in Townsville Round 1 and new boys the Dolphins in Round 2 at Moreton Daily Stadium. Both will be huge occasions and a hostile welcome is guaranteed for Ricky Stuart’s men. They head home in Round 3 to play the Sharks and then travel to Newcastle in Round 4 to face the Knights.
Origin watch
The Raiders and Rabbitohs could both be down on troops when they meet in Round 13, four days ahead of Origin I. The Green Machine get a bye before Origin II and face the Dragons on the weekend before the third game of the series. They have a bye after Origin III which could come in very handy to rest the likes of Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii and possibly Hudson Young if he continues on his upward trajectory.
The run home
The Raiders venture to one of their happiest hunting grounds, AAMI Park, in Round 24 for a Sunday afternoon grudge match against the Storm. They get two home games in a row in Round 25 and 26 against the Bulldogs and Broncos before a trip to Shark Park on the last day of the regular season.
And another thing...
The Raiders only have to play eight games in 2023 against sides who made the finals in 2022. The only top-eight side they play twice is the Sharks. Their other 16 games are against teams who missed the finals and also the Dolphins. The face the Dragons, Knights, Broncos, Bulldogs, Warriors, Tigers and Wayne Bennett’s new boys twice for the year.