The Raiders have been handed the “short straw” with a six-day turnaround ahead of their blockbuster elimination final against the Storm at AAMI Park.
Canberra’s demolition of the Tigers closed out the regular season and the team from the nation’s capital then made the trek home on Sunday evening to prepare for the finals series.
Meanwhile, the Storm, Roosters and Rabbitohs were all gifted nine-day recovery periods after the NRL confirmed the finals schedule on Sunday.
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Craig Bellamy’s side played the Eels on Thursday night, while the Rabbitohs and Roosters went to battle on Friday evening, days before the Raiders’ Tigers clash.
Raiders boss Don Furner likened the situation to that of the 2020 season when the club were ordered to fly in and travel directly to Suncorp Stadium for a preliminary final against the Storm.
“It’s made it harder for us, and it reminds me of 2020,” Raiders boss Don Furner told the SMH.
“It’s not easy, but we’re used to it.”
Raiders powerbrokers reportedly contacted the NRL requesting their final be scheduled on Sunday to allow sufficient recovery time — while also having to spend a day travelling to Melbourne.
The NRL responded saying Canberra’s final must be first on Saturday so two NRLW games can be scheduled beforehand at AAMI Park.
Panthers’ home ground BlueBet Stadium and Cronulla’s PointsBet Stadium reportedly don’t have facilities to accommodate NRLW matches but that isn’t the reason behind the scheduling.
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The second week of finals is said to be the deciding factor, with the winner of the first elimination clash set to play the loser of the finals’ curtain raiser.
That would see either the Raiders or Storm take on the Panthers or Eels, likely on Friday in the second week of the finals series.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was blunt when asked about the NRL’s scheduling.
“We’re a club that is used to getting the short straw,” Stuart said in the post-match press conference.
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