Wagga rugby league fans got the chance to meet the Canberra Raiders at the Oasis Aquatic Centre on Thursday afternoon. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Saturday’s league clash between Wagga’s favourite team, the Canberra Raiders and the NRL’s newest team, the Redcliffe Dolphins is promising to be nothing short of an absolute blockbuster as the Green Machine looks to even the score following a round two loss to the Dolphins earlier this year.
Despite an already jam-packed week for Wagga’s fans, including a fantastic signing event at the Oasis Aquatic Centre on Thursday evening, there is still plenty to see before the two teams hit the field on Saturday afternoon.
Starting with the Jersey Flegg Cup at 11 am at McDonald’s Park, the U-21 Raiders squad look to secure their second win of the year against the fifth-placed Rabbitohs. There is plenty of talent coming from the U-21s competition, with some of the best prospects from NSW making their way through the competition.
Following the Jersey Flegg Cup is the NRL reserve grade competition – the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup. Both the Raiders and the Rabbitohs will be looking to secure much needed wins as the seventh-placed Raiders look to stay in touch with the ladder leaders, while the 12th-placed Bunnies will be trying to stay a couple of games clear of the last-placed Newcastle Knights.
Some young fans taking pictures with their favourite players at Thursday’s signing. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Some of Wagga’s junior league players from Wagga Roos, Wagga Magpies, Wagga Brothers and Turvey Park will also get the opportunity to play on the field during the half-time break of the Raiders/Dolphins fixture, at 3:45 pm.
There will be limited parking on the day, with only three fields open to the public. Those who are attending the game are encouraged to share rides where possible. There will be three sections open to the public just north of McDonald’s Park and one extended park to the south. The parking entrance will be located via Copland and Parson Streets and the cost for parking is a gold coin donation. Gates open at 10:45 am.
Fans of the Raiders have been encouraged by the team’s captain Jarrod Croker to get to McDonald’s Park and make some noise for Wagga’s adopted team.
“It’s always a pleasure coming out to the bush, we’ve spent the past few years here and it is always in immaculate condition, just like it is now,” the 294-gamer said.
“Whenever we come back to Wagga we see a lot of familiar faces. We went to the (Oasis) Aquatic Centre on Thursday and it was nice and busy; we’d love to see more of that on Saturday.”
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