The Canberra Raiders will get two chances to get one back on the Roosters in 2020 after the revamped NRL draw was revealed.
The NRL teased fans by only announcing the first two rounds last week, but today they will officially announce the complete 20-round draw for season 2020.
The Raiders would be relatively pleased with the ease of their schedule early on as they will face the lowly Gold Coast Titans, New Zealand Warriors and St-George Illawara Dragons twice each.
It gets much tougher after that with two games each also scheduled against both the reigning premiers, the Sydney Roosters, and the always tough Melbourne Storm.
Despite coming off a great season last year and being one of the main premiership fancies in 2020, the Raiders have been shunned from the spotlight with only one game coming in the premier Thursday or Friday night slots.
That one primetime game is a Thursday night match in round 10 against the Roosters, which will be the first time the sides play each other since last year’s controversial Grand Final.
The venues for the first seven rounds back have also been revealed, with the Raiders playing five of those matches at their temporary ‘home’ ground, Campbelltown Stadium. The other two matches will be in Melbourne at AAMI Park against the Storm and one at Bankwest Stadium against the Eels.
Of interest to the three Raiders players (Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Sia Soliola) who didn’t receive a flu injection, will be in round 15 when the Raiders travel to Queensland to play the Titans.
The Queensland Government has been resolute in demanding all players must have a flu jab in order to train and play in the Sunshine State. Whether or not that will change remains to be seen.
Full Raiders Draw
| Round | Home | Away | Venue | Day | Date | Time |
| 1 | Raiders | Titans | GIO Stadium | Friday | 13-Mar | 6pm |
| 2 | Warriors | Raiders | CBUS Super Stadium | Saturday | 21-Mar | 3pm |
| 3 | Storm | Raiders | AAMI Park | Saturday | 30-May | 7:35pm |
| 4 | Raiders | Knights | Campbelltown Stadium | Sunday | 07-Jun | 4:05pm |
| 5 | Tigers | Raiders | Campbelltown Stadium | Saturday | 13-Jun | 7:35pm |
| 6 | Raiders | Sea Eagles | Campbelltown Stadium | Sunday | 21-Jun | 4:05pm |
| 7 | Eels | Raiders | Bankwest Stadium | Saturday | 27-Jun | 7:35pm |
| 8 | Raiders | Dragons | Campbelltown Stadium | Friday | 03-Jul | 6pm |
| 9 | Raiders | Storm | Campbelltown Stadium | Saturday | 11-Jul | 7:35pm |
| 10 | Roosters | Raiders | TBA | Thursday | 16-Jul | 7:50pm |
| 11 | Raiders | Rabbitohs | TBA | Saturday | 25-Jul | 7:35pm |
| 12 | Cowboys | Raiders | TBA | Saturday | 01-Aug | 5:30pm |
| 13 | Panthers | Raiders | TBA | Saturday | 08-Aug | 7:35pm |
| 14 | Raiders | Broncos | TBA | Sunday | 15-Aug | 6:30pm |
| 15 | Titans | Raiders | TBA | Saturday | 22-Aug | 3pm |
| 16 | Raiders | Bulldogs | TBA | Sunday | 30-Aug | 6:30pm |
| 17 | Raiders | Roosters | TBA | Saturday | 05-Sep | 7:35pm |
| 18 | Dragons | Raiders | TBA | Saturday | 12-Sep | 3pm |
| 19 | Raiders | Warriors | TBA | Sunday | 20-Sep | 2pm |
| 20 | Sharks | Raiders | TBA | Saturday | 26-Sep | 5:30pm |
