The NRL and NRLW Grand Finals (GF) are more than two months away, but Canberra Raiders fans are snapping up tickets in droves.

This year’s decider will be held at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Sunday 5 October. Last week, a report in The Daily Telegraph revealed that Raiders fans have purchased more 2025 GF tickets than any other side, making up 22 per cent of total ticket sales. Bulldogs fans were next with 19 per cent and Broncos supporters rounded out the top three with 18 per cent.

For fan Patrick Pentony, attending the GF would be a great way to bookend the season – he was there for the 2025 season opener in Las Vegas back in March.

“It would be amazing. Even being touted for the wooden spoon this season, and to turn it around from the spoon to premiership would be amazing,” he told CD.

Patrick also attended the 2019 GF – purchasing tickets last minute, so this time around he wanted to make sure to get in early.

“I just thought it would be nice to have it locked in,” he said.

“I mean we’ve got a lot of work to do to get ourselves there for the Raiders, but it would be nice to just have it locked away.

“They cost a lot more for my 2019 tickets than I’ve spent on the tickets for 2025.

“Now that we’ve had the option to get tickets in advance, instead of having mates sprinkled all around the stadium, we’re all sitting together.

“I’m lucky enough that my brother-in-law bought tickets, so I’ll be sitting with my family, which will be great.”

For Dannielle Greed, she made a bet with a friend 20 years ago that if the Raiders won a GF, she would get a tattoo to honour her favourite team.

Dannielle also attended the 2019 decider.

“I bought my tickets for 2019 the moment they were released,” she told CD.

“I didn’t want to miss out. I just had a vibe back then and then I had the same vibe this year, so I bought them early again.”

This time around, she is going with her husband and two children.

“When I was a child, the Raiders were so big in Canberra and everybody was a fan and the atmosphere was amazing,” Dannielle said.

“I really hope for the same thing for my children that they could grow up with that same feeling.”

At the post-match press conference following Josh Papalii’s 319th appearance for the Raiders, coach Ricky Stuart said Canberra was a different place when the team was winning.

Dannielle agreed.

“When everything starts to turn green, you get that special feeling,” she said.

At a press conference on 23 July, Raiders Hooker Tom Starling told CD the buzz among fans for the team to reach the GF was exciting and showed the hard work the players had done.

But he said the focus remained on this weekend’s match against the Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium Canberra on Sunday 27 July.

“We’ll let the fans and everyone else build the hype around it all. We’ve got to keep focused,” Starling said.

“There’s still a lot of footy to go in between here and the semi-finals, so we’ve got to make sure each week we’re switched on to our opponent ahead and how we play.

“But it is exciting for the fans and I’m excited for them that they’re getting to hopefully experience some meaningful games down the back end.”

Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh is also excited.

“I’d love to go all the way again,” he told CD.

“We did it once in 2019 [when the Raiders lost to the Roosters 8-14], obviously it was a heartbreaking day.

“But if we put ourselves in a good position and if we come first or second, hopefully get two home finals and give ourselves the best chance.

“So that’s our goal, we want the minor premiership, so we’re playing for that each week.”

Canberra Raiders head of communications and marketing Ben Pollack said seeing their fans purchase the biggest number of GF tickets showed the faith they had in the current playing group.

“Our members and fans have watched the team perform well so far this year and have the hope they can go all the way,” he told CD.

“The team’s performances show that there is plenty of potential in the current squad, but the team also know there’s still a long way to go before the end of the season.”

After round 21, the Raiders sit on top of the ladder, having won nine straight matches. If you are a confident Canberra fan, you can buy Grand Final tickets at premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=NRLGRAND25

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