This is a really valid point. When I first moved to Canberra in 2008 I genuinely didn't know anything about the rugbies (I actually didn't know there were two sports. Thought the nRL was the club comp and the Wallabies were the national team), and had no ill-feeling towards the code. I was invited to watch a game against the Panthers one Sunday by a Raiders fanatic mate of mine, and was really looking forward to it. The atmosphere at that game was the worst these travelling eyes have ever come across. I can't remember the crowd figure, but it was WELL short of 10k, and even though the Raiders smashed Penrith, there was just no enthusiasm whatsoever from the crowd. Admittedly it was cold as balls, but still, I've been to games at Elizabeth Oval in the piuring rain that had a better atmosphere.
I've been to the occassional game since, and every time it's the same story; there just aren't many die-hard Raiders fans. When the Riders are firing people jump on board, but people just don't talk about them around the place. I've been told by many people that in the 90s they were massive, but slowly over time they've faded. My Mate thinks it's because they're never on the TV, and i'm sure that's a large part of it.
Compare that to the atmosphere at GWS games at Manuka and it's night and day. The crowds were of a similar size, but the buzz at the ground during the Gold Coast win was unreal. It's the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
Dave can poo poo this all he wants, but the Raiders have a bit of a fight on their hands, and the fight is with an out-of-town side, playing a sport that isn't the number 1 code of the region, only 3 games a year. Pathetic.
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
