A Queenslander, a Kiwi and a Pom walk into a bar. In Canberra. There's a fair chance they all played for the Raiders.
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The Queenslander might've even played in the Green Machine's 1989 premiership winning team. There were a few of them.
The Kiwi could've as well, while the Pom is part of a new breed of Raider, like their latest recruit George Williams.
Back in the day, the land of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was fertile recruitment ground for the Green Machine.
Banana benders figured there wasn't much difference between Sydney and Canberra - it was all south to them - so they were easier to recruit to the ACT.
Sydneysiders not so much. What with their addiction to traffic jams and paying for the privilege of being in aforementioned jams.
But if the Brisbane Broncos were born six years earlier it might've been a different kettle of fish. Because the Raiders would've needed to find a new fishing ground earlier than they did.
Gary Belcher, Gary Coyne, Mal Meninga and Steve Walters all rode their cane toads to Canberra ahead of the 1986 season, beginning a highly successful migration.
The following year Kevin Walters followed his brother, with Steve Jackson joining him in the caravan.
With them came winning. In 1987 they made the club's first grand final and two years later they'd wrapped up Canberra's first ever premiership. Before going back-to-back in '90 just for good measure.
But by then those pesky Broncos, who kicked off in 1988, were already forcing the noble Raiders to change their ways.
No longer could the Canberra hierarchy launch their fishing trawlers from Jervis Bay and head north to catch a fresh batch of footballers from the QLD.
Instead, the Broncos were starting to recruit Queensland's best. Kevvie Walters even went home following the '89 triumph to join them.
So instead of heading north, the trawlers headed east to the land of the long white cloud.
Brent Todd was part of the back-to-back premierships, before Raiders coach Tim Sheens cast his eye across the ditch in search of greener pastures.
John Lomax, Quentin Pongia and Ruben Wiki. They all joined the Green Machine in '93 and showed Canberra was sweet as for Kiwis, eh bro.
Sheens had added a bit of Kiwi fruit to his banana benders and the result was the '94 premiership.
But then the New Zealand Warriors came along. Deciding to fly their banner in the Australian competition in 1995 and naturally they wanted to call their Kiwis their own.
Although there's still a healthy supply of Kiwis being trawled into lime green today.
Jordan Rapana, Joe Tapine, Sia Soliola, Siliva Havili, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Brad Abbey and Ata Hingano are all New Zealand born, while Bailey Simonsson played for the New Zealand sevens team before joining the Raiders to return to rugby league.
But with the rivers of Queensland and Kiwi gold getting sucked dry by the Broncos and Warriors, it's been a long time between drinks for the Raiders.
Since '94 the Green Machine fans have been starved of success. Until now, they hope.
That resurgence could come off the back of a new fish pond to drop their line in.
Once again the trawlers are heading north, but instead of stopping at Pauline Hanson's house they're continuing on. Up past the Great Barrier Reef and to the Old Dart.
To the land of fish and chips, Indian curry and whinging. This is England.
It got off to an ominous start. Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson opted for the less traditional way to arrive Down Under - by jumping through a Dunedin door.
But it proved to be a good omen. He's become the heir-apparent to Cameron Smith's crown as the best dummy half in the world. Not to mention joining Jarrod Croker in the co-captaincy.
Elliott Whitehead was on the second Canberra-bound convict ship and he tackled his way into Raiders hearts.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart doubled up with John Bateman and Ryan Sutton this season. Both proving instant successes.
Especially "Batty". The Bradford brawler who draws the line at fighting crocodiles, but has become the buy of the year and is well on his way to being one of the best in the NRL.
But wait, as Tim Shaw would say, there's more!
This week the Raiders have finally announced the impending arrival of their fifth Englishman, George Williams.
Clearly when it comes to the Poms, Stuart isn't doing things by halves. Although given Williams is one, maybe he is.
Could this be the new fishing ground the Raiders needed to return themselves to the top of the heap?
Meninga, Belcher and Coyne all brought premiership success from the Brisbane competition when they came to Canberra and it's a similar case for the English.
Bateman, Sutton and Williams have all won silverware with Wigan in the English Super League and have their sights set on doing the same in the capital.
Thirty years after the Raiders claimed that first title. Now there's an omen.
NRL ROUND 17
Sunday: St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders in Wollongong, 6.10pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Nick Cotric, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Corey Horsburgh, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Ryan Sutton, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Michael Oldfield, 20. Royce Hunt, 21. Emre Guler.
Dragons squad: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Jonus Pearson, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Darren Nicholls, 8. Jeremy Latimore, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Blake Lawrie, 11. Jacob Host, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Luciano Leilua. Interchange: 14. Korbin Sims, 15. Reece Robson, 16. Patrick Kaufusi, 17. Josh Kerr, 18. Tristan Sailor, 19. Jason Saab, 20. James Graham, 21. Ben Hunt.