Canberra Raiders faces major NRL travel challenge home and away

The relocated New Zealand Warriors aside, the NRL has handed the Raiders the toughest task of any other team as part of the revamped draw.

But you won't hear the Green Machine complaining, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart saying it's not his place to decide whether all the travel they'll have to do is fair.

The Raiders have to play at least their next four home games at Campbelltown, while Sydney teams barely need to get the car out of the garage.

That's despite the ACT government giving Canberra Stadium the all clear to be used as as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

But cost-cutting measures for the NRL's broadcasters means the Storm can play at home in Melbourne while the Green Machine has to hit the road.

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On Saturday, the players and coaches will arrive at Canberra Airport at 1.20pm and they won't get home until about 1.30am on Tuesday.

That's a fair old day even before you throw a rugby league game against the Storm in the mix as well.

A Storm that's hurting from having lost their past two encounters against the Raiders in Melbourne.

"We've got a lot of resolve in our group. The travel the next six or seven weeks is going to be a major challenge," Stuart said.

"We've got to take it a day at a time and when I say a day at a time it's not your old cliche of a week at a time because it's a day at time at the moment because of our extra loads of travel.

"We don't get home until 1.30am-2am after this game. And then we've got another travel week the week after.

"That's going to continue for the next six games.

"Each day is going to be different in regards to what the players will be physically needing, what type of preparation, how much recovery and rehab [needed] is going to be all changed now because of the extra travel.

"So we'll just take it moment to moment and make sure we do everything we possibly can each day to be prepared for that next game.

"We've just got to take what's in front of us and be appreciative we've got the game back on."

NRL ROUND THREE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Melbourne, 7.35pm.

Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh. Interchange from: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Michael Oldfield, 18. Jordan Rapana, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Tom Starling.

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Marion Seve, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange from: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 16. Christian Welch, 17. Max King, 18. Tom Eisenhuth, 19. Brenko Lee, 20. Ryley Jacks, 21. Darryn Schonig.