Top ten stories on The Greenhouse: What you clicked in 2015
2015: A remarkable thing happened. The Canberra Raiders fans started talking about the football! Sure, there was discussion about potential signings, and the actual signings. But unlike recent years past, there were no major scandals as a result of player behaviour, no high profile players walking out on the club. The squad has been re-shaped, almost entirely, by coach Ricky Stuart, in the space of just two years. The culture has been re-shaped as well. And nine of the top 10 peaks for site traffic on The Greenhouse were simply game days.
On the field
Things were certainly not all rosy. Season 2015 was the third in a row that the Canberra Raiders missed the finals. Incredibly, it is the first time in history that has happened - provided the finals playoff in 1984 counts as a shot at the finals.
The winning record at home was also the worst in history, with the Raiders winning just three of 12 clashes. Even in the club's inaugural season, 1982, with a team full of park players, the Raiders won four home games.
But nevertheless, there were some signs that the club is on the right path. The Raiders climbed the ladder to tenth place and finished just two wins out of the top eight. There were five losses of two points or less, and six of four points or less. Another loss, to the Bulldogs, was another last minute seven point loss.
It was seven games, fourteen competition points, that could have gone the other way. Five more wins was a top four finish. The missing ingredients were game management and consistency, the level heads and experience needed to win the tight contests.
The wins
The games that attracted most attention from the fans happened in successive weeks.
First, there was the record comeback win over the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in Round 7. The Raiders were down 22-0, and ran out 30-22 winners, eclipsing the previous biggest comeback of 18 points in 2005 and 1998.
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2015 Round 23 Canberra Raiders V Manly Sea Eagles
Brett Stewart off side at the play the ball, and does not retreat before scoring.
The signings
Some of the Raiders' best in 2015 were Ricky Stuart's new recruits to the club - such as Josh Hodgson, Blake Austin, and Sia Soliola. Recruitment news for 2016 was positive too, with the signing of players like five eighth Aidan Sezer from the Gold Coast Titans, England second rower, Elliott Whitehead from the Catalan Dragons, and Joey Leilua from the Newcastle Knights mid year. The signing of Sezer was the biggest news of all, giving Raiders fans the hope of a top line halves combination.
Elliott Whitehead
Players who didn't sign were big news as well. The speculation around the signing of North Queensland Cowboys prop James Tamou - possibly mid season - dragged on and on... and there's still some speculation he may yet sign for 2017. His wife has family in the Canberra district and wanted to move close to home, but Tamou himself was less convinced. Tamou got himself a premiership ring in the end, so staying in Townsville in 2015 was no doubt his wisest choice. The possible signing of Jared Waerea Hargreaves from the Roosters was also much discussed, just missing our top ten lists.
Ricky Stuart
The final signing news that attracted attention was the contract extension for coach Ricky Stuart to end 2018. Stuart was originally signed for three years, to end 2016, and some Raiders fans are wondering if it was a decision taken too soon. While Stuart has been much lauded for his recruitment and retention decisions, the wins in his first two years have been thin on the ground. Canberra has won 18 of 48 games under Stuart, a win ratio of just 37.5 per cent.
However, most fans see a much brighter future under the legendary half back. Stuart now has the team he wants. It looks strong on paper, if not a little thin in depth in the backs... and probably short one top quality prop. And not only Raiders fans are tipping bigger and better things for the Green Machine in 2016. So are many of the out of town experts.
Let's hope they're right. A top eight finish and a chance at a long awaited premiership!
TOP TEN STORIES ON THE GREENHOUSE IN 2015, BASED ON WHAT YOU CLICKED
Top ten stories based on daily site traffic:
1. Canberra Raiders record comeback against the Wests Tigers (April 19)
2. Come from behind win for Raiders in Cairns over South Sydney Rabbitohs (April 26-27)
3. Canberra Raiders defeat Cronulla Sharks in season opener (March 8)
4. Aidan Sezer signs with Canberra Raiders on three year deal (April 9)
5. Canberra Raiders defeat Panthers at Penrith, after Josh Hodgson masterclass (July 26)
6. Narrow defeat at home to Storm, as Raiders farewell Dane Tilse (April 12)
7. Raiders defeat Gold Coast Titans at home 56-16 (May 9)
8. Illegal Brett Stewart try sees Manly Sea Eagles defeat Raiders at last gasp, ending the season (August 16)
9. Controversial Jarrod Croker "double movement, no try" in Wollongong, Raiders go down to Dragons (May 17)
10. Raiders run down by Dragons 22-20, after leading 18-0 (March 21)
Top ten individual threads based on views:
1. Canberra Raiders confirm Joey Leilua signing
2. Aidan Sezer signs with Canberra Raiders on three year deal
3. James Tamou linked to Canberra Raiders
4. 2015 Auckland Nines Game Day Canberra Raiders V Tigers, Warriors, Titans
5. Round 1 Teams and Previews Canberra Raiders V Cronulla Sharks
6. Round 8 Game Day Canberra Raiders V South Sydney Rabbitohs
7. 2015 Trial 2 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Newcastle Knights
8. Ricky Stuart re-signs to end 2018
9. Canberra Raiders sign Elliott Whitehead to end 2017
10. Round 1 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Cronulla Sharks
Top ten individual threads based on replies:
1. Aidan Sezer signs with Canberra Raiders on three year deal
2. 2015 Auckland Nines Game Day Canberra Raiders V Tigers, Warriors, Titans
3. Canberra Raiders confirm Joey Leilua signing
4. Round 8 Game Day Canberra Raiders V South Sydney Rabbitohs
5. Round 7 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Wests Tigers
6. Round 1 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Cronulla Sharks
7. Round 3 Game Day Canberra Raiders V St George Illawarra Dragons
8. Round 20 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Penrith Panthers
9. Round 10 Game Day Canberra Raiders V St George Illawarra Dragons
10. Round 26 Game Day Canberra Raiders V Parramatta Eels
* Individual threads from the Canberra Raiders forum, excluding permanently stickied and recurring threads.
Statistics: Posted by greeneyed — December 26, 2015, 6:00 am