Rugby league is a sport that isn’t “part of the world” in Sri Lanka, where Canberran Ajanthan ‘AJ’ Bala was born.

But in the late 1980s, his family discovered the Canberra Raiders.

They stumbled upon rugby league through the “rising glory” of the Raiders at the time.

“Everyone in Canberra was talking about them,” AJ recalled on the Raiders.com.au website.

“The Green Machine was becoming a phenomenon, and in the middle of all that buzz, we got curious.

“One weekend, Dad turned on the radio. We didn’t know the rules, but it didn’t matter. There was a rhythm to the game, a heartbeat that matched our own. We were hooked.”

While AJ was only three when his family moved to Australia in 1985, he said rugby league wasn’t part of the world back home.

“In Sri Lanka, cricket ruled everything — the streets, the schools, the radio,” he told CD.

“Cricket was more than a game; it was a national heartbeat.”

“Rugby, when it was played, was usually the union code and mostly followed by the elite schools.

“Rugby league, though, is virtually unknown.

“To think that a game so central to our family’s identity here in Canberra was completely absent from our lives in Sri Lanka still amazes me.”

AJ said discovering the Raiders felt like stumbling onto a piece of Australia that somehow felt made for them.

He said while at the time the White Australia Policy had been abolished, its residue lingered in attitudes and systems with the family’s clothes, food and language, and the colour of their skin making the family stand out.

“My parents didn’t have rugby league in Sri Lanka — it wasn’t part of their past — but the Green Machine gave us something new to hold onto,” AJ said.

“In a new city, which at times felt quite foreign, the Raiders made us feel welcome and safe.

“Every try, every cheer, pulled us closer into the heart of Canberra.

“Falling in love with the club wasn’t just about the game itself — it was about finding belonging, and knowing we finally had a team, and a community, to call our own.”

AJ said his team gave him plenty of reasons to celebrate this year.

“Honestly, the season itself feels like a highlight reel — but a few games will be remembered forever,” he said.

“The nail-biting finish against Melbourne in magic round with the rain pouring, with Kaeo’s (Weekes) chip-and-chase try, was pure magic.

“And can anyone in rugby league look past the ‘Miracle in Mudgee’? Absolutely not — that was a moment that will live on in Raiders folklore forever!

“Add to that the way the boys kicked off the year, with all eyes on (Las) Vegas and a big win over the Warriors — it set the tone for everything that followed.”

His lowlight was the heartbreak of seeing Xavier Savage sidelined for the rest of the season after he sustained a shoulder injury during the Mudgee match.

“Unable to carry on into what could be our premiership run — he’s been such a huge part of why the team stands where it does today,” AJ said.

“His absence will be immense, but if last week (Mudgee) taught us anything, having the ‘Stuart’ (by way of Jed Stuart) name on the field again means we won’t miss a beat!”

AJ said it has been amazing to see the buzz around the Raiders this year, reminiscent of when he became a fan in the 1980s.

“The buzz, the hype, the coverage and love around the Raiders right now is beyond words,” he said.

“There’s such a deep sense of pride in seeing the city light up in green again.

“It does take me back to those days when you’d open the paper and find that special green pullout section, filled only with Raiders news.

“People can get critical and call it ‘bandwagoning’ when new fans or lapsed supporters jump on board during the highs.

“But I see it differently. I think it’s fantastic. The more people behind the team, the stronger the spirit. Who cares how or when they joined — let’s just back the boys to bring home that premiership!”

You can read AJ’s full story at: raiders.com.au/news/2025/06/19/finding-home-in-a-new-land-migration-identity-and-the-green-machine/

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