The Green Machine is speeding along the road to the finals and Aidan Sezer has called on fans to jump on board as the Canberra Raiders surge towards their best crowd figures in 24 years.
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An average of 14,477 people have come through the gates at the Raiders' 10 home games to date this season at Canberra Stadium and Wagga Wagga.
Now a top four showdown which comes a week after Canberra stunned the premiership favourites could knock that number out of the park.
Raiders halfback Sezer is urging fans around the capital to hop on the bandwagon heading into a clash with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
Sezer believes Canberra boasts "the best fan base in the competition" and he is desperate to run out to a sea of 20,000 lime green-clad supporters doing the viking clap.
Not since 2010 have the Raiders cracked that mark for a regular season game and they fell just short against the Sydney Roosters a fortnight ago.
It would propel the Raiders towards their best average attendances since 1995 with one home game remaining after the Manly clash.
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"Hopefully we get a good crowd out there," Sezer said.
"We have good faith in the Canberra community, they always get out there and support us well.
"I do believe, definitely, we have the best fan base in the competition. When we're winning games, they come out and support us tenfold.
"Hopefully we get a 20,000-plus crowd out there this week and put in a good performance against Manly."
It comes as explosive Raiders forward Joe Tapine nurses a rib issue heading into the final three rounds of the regular season.
The New Zealand international says he will not risk further injury on the eve of the finals, so determined is he to play a role for the Raiders during the business end of the season.
It leaves Raiders coach Ricky Stuart with a decision to make as he prepares his troops for a clash with the high-flying Sea Eagles.
"I definitely want to play but I know all the boys will cover me if I'm out," Tapine said.
"We've only got a couple more games and I would rather be flying for finals than be 50 per cent in the round games.
"Definitely [want to play]. It was sore from the last game so I just did a little bit of training and tried to play through the pain.
"I hurt it a bit last week and I tried to play on with it [against the Storm]. It's obviously a bit sore.
"I'll just see how the week goes, I've still got a bit of time."
NRL ROUND 23
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
