𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎: 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙂𝙄𝙊 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙪𝙢, 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖, 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙖 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝘾, 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙍𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙝 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙞’𝙞 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬… 𝙎𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚

A wave of excitement swept through GIO Stadium in Canberra today as the Canberra Raiders board, led by Chairman Dennis Richardson AC, delivered a bold and inspiring message to players, staff, and the wider rugby league community.

Addressing members and fans, Richardson reaffirmed the club’s commitment to excellence, unity, and long-term success. He praised the resilience shown over recent seasons and emphasized that the Raiders are entering a defining chapter in their proud history.

“This club stands for hard work, loyalty, and community,” Richardson said. “We back our coach, we back our players, and we back the green machine to rise.”

Stuart Responds With Major Leadership Announcement

Moments after the chairman’s address, Head Coach Ricky Stuart stepped forward to make a headline-grabbing announcement — naming club legend Josh Papalii as the Raiders’ new captain.

The decision was met with thunderous applause inside the stadium, as Papalii, one of the club’s most respected veterans, was officially handed the leadership reins.

Stuart described Papalii as “the heartbeat of this team,” praising his professionalism, toughness, and unwavering loyalty to the Raiders jersey.

“Josh embodies everything this club stands for,” Stuart said. “He leads by action, by voice, and by example. The boys trust him — and so do I.”

A New Era for the Green Machine

Papalii, visibly emotional, thanked the board, coaching staff, teammates, and fans for their belief.

“This club means everything to me,” he said. “I’ll give everything I have to lead this team the right way.”

With strong backing from the board and a respected leader at the helm, the Raiders appear poised to charge into the new season with renewed purpose. Fans leaving GIO Stadium were buzzing, hopeful that this marks the beginning of a powerful new era for Canberra rugby league.