Canberra Raiders yearn for NRL homecoming after drawing 'short straw'

The NRL will need to approve "clean zones" at Canberra Stadium before allowing the Raiders to resume their campaign at home on July 3 - a month earlier than expected.

The ACT government has approved the club's submission to return home, with the Raiders forced to play home games at Campbelltown Stadium since the competition resumed.

Sunday's clash with Manly Warringah on Sunday afternoon could be their last home game in Sydney with Raiders winder Jordan Rapana growing tired of the travel toll.

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"I hope it's sooner rather than later. There's a few of us struggling here, not getting on the golf course and all the social side of things," Rapana said.

"In terms of home games, we drew the short straw. It's pretty tough, not that I like looking for excuses, but it's not convenient when we're travelling three hours to our own home game.

"That's almost the same distance to all of our away games. The sooner we get our games back here, the better for us. I'm looking forward to it."

The Raiders are considering scrapping a flight to Sydney in favour of a bus trip on Sunday, while club officials look towards a possible return to small crowds in July.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is open to hosting small crowds at games but the configuration and measures required to make it happen will be decided in meetings with stadium staff.

"I'm excited for that, especially for my game prep. I just like chilling out, having a nap and just relaxing before games," forward Joe Tapine said.

"At the moment that's not happening so it's a bit of an adjustment. I'm looking forward to getting back. Hopefully the crowd starts rolling in and we get to play in front of them.

"It's a learning process kind of thing. You have to adjust your game day prep, and that's a big thing for me, trying to get my head right before the game."

NRL ROUND SIX

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Stadium, 4.05pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papali'i, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Sia Soliola, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Corey Horsburgh. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Hudson Young. Reserves: 18. Dunamis Lui, 19. Bailey Simonsson, 20. Matt Frawley, 21. Tom Starling.

Sea Eagles squad: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Tevita Funa, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Brendan Elliot, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Dylan Walker, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Taniela Paseka, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Croker, 15. Jack Gosiewski, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Morgan Boyle. Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley, 19. Abbas Miski, 20. Haumole Olakau'atu, 21. Cade Cust.