Canberra Raiders set to be rewarded with more free-to-air exposure

While it's unclear exactly how many of their 24 home-and-away games will be shown on Channel Nine, it's believed to be better than what Ricky Stuart's Green Machine have become accustomed to in recent years.

It's believed they'll have at least three home games televised on free-to-air - beginning with their round one clash against the Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium on March 14 - plus a handful more on the road.

They also opened their 2020 season at home - against the Gold Coast Titans - before the COVID-19 virus shutdown the competition.

The Canberra Times can also reveal the Raiders will host the Newcastle Knights in Wagga Wagga on May 8 - the day after the Wagga Gold Cup.

They were meant to play the Knights there this season, but the introduction of the NRL bubble meant the Raiders weren't even allowed to play at Canberra Stadium for a large chunk of the season let alone in Wagga Wagga.

The Raiders will reassess after the Knights game before deciding whether to take up the option they have with the Wagga Wagga council to host a third home game there.

MORE RAIDERS NEWS

Next year will see a similar set-up to how their Riverina game was scheduled in 2019 when they beat the Penrith Panthers - Wagga Wagga's two-day racing carnival followed by the footy.

It will be one of six NRL games played in regional areas, with games also to be held in Bathurst, Tamworth, Mudgee, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour.

The Raiders were meant to have eight of their 24 games shown on free-to-air television this year, but that was slashed back to just three when the coronavirus pandemic struck.

They only had five in 2019.

But maybe Channel Nine have learnt from this season, where they had a woeful Brisbane Broncos on almost every week.

In contrast, the Raiders made it to the preliminary final - after making it to the 2019 NRL grand final - despite having to overcome the toughest travel schedule of any team in the competition.