The Canberra Raiders kick off their 2020 NRL season on Friday 13 March with a home game against the Gold Coast Titans.
The Raiders come into the season having played one pre-season match; a 12-10 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Saturday 29 February.
Ryan Sutton was charged by the NRL Judiciary for a grade one shoulder charge in the match and took the early plea, which sees him miss the opening match of the season.
Forward John Bateman will also miss the opening rounds of the 2020 NRL season following shoulder surgery. He is expected to be available for selection in round 7-8, while Hudson Young still has five matches remaining on his 2019 suspension and is expected to return in round 6.
In other news, the Raiders have inducted four more players into the club’s Hall of Fame: Craig Bellamy, Phil Carey, Paul Martin and Matthew Wood; while the Huawei Raiders Centre in Braddon is also officially open.
The $19 million facility, which is a collaborative project of the ACT and NSW governments and Canberra District Rugby League, features elite level training and rehabilitation spaces, administrative offices and community rooms.
Brumbies triumph
The Brumbies comprehensively defeated the Sunwolves 47-14 in round six of Super Rugby at WIN Stadium, Wollongong. The Brumbies take on the NSW Waratahs at GIO Stadium on 15 March 4.05pm, in a double header with the Super W side taking on the Queensland Reds at 1.15pm.
Come and try shooting
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) ACT Majura Range Open Day will provide participants over 12 years of age with a chance to try SSAA disciplines, which include a variety of rifles and handguns. The event is on Sunday 15 March 10am-3pm at the SSAA Majura Range, Hector McIntosh Grove, Majura. Cost: Gold coin donation to assist the SSAA ACT Junior Development Section.
Rally action
Australia’s best rally drivers will descend on Canberra to tackle 120km of competitive stages in and around the Tidbinbilla forest in the Netier National Capital Rally on 21-22 March. The event is round one of the RSEA Safety Motorsports Australia Rally Championship and also forms round one of the MTA NSW Rally State Championship and East Coast Classic Series. For more information, visit netiernationalcapitalrally.com.au
Caps in Opals squad
Kelsey Griffin and Marianna Tolo have been named in the Australian Opals squad which will hold their first camp of 2020 on the Gold Coast from 29 March to 5 April. Of the 19 players heading into camp, only 12 will go on to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, with final team selection in late June.
Economic boost
An IER Report indicated the stand-alone Black Opal Stakes injected $425,591 of economic stimulus into Canberra in 2019. In 2020, the Canberra Racing Club moved to a two-day carnival with the Black Opal Stakes on 8 March and the Canberra Cup on 9 March. The IER Report stated a $436,076 economic boost will be received with $861,667 injected into the Canberra economy by this year’s carnival.
