The Raiders' first trial match was against a highly understrength Brisbane Broncos team, with the top side in England playing their World Club Challenge match as premiers. However, the Raiders lost this game, resulting in widespread criticism and the team's entrenchment as wooden spoon favourites. Despite bouncing back against Wests Tigers in their second match, the Raiders were unable to put paid to these predictions, largely due to the side's lack of experience at both first grade and representative level.
The Raiders' first NRL match of the season started inauspiciously, with a 32–6 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles. Their first win was in the third round, a convincing 48–18 win over the Newcastle Knights. The team registered consecutive wins for the only time in Round 11 against the Dragons, and entered the top 8 for the first time in Round 13. However, this win was followed by four straight losses, and the Raiders were unable to find any consistency before the season finished.
This season was notable for the Raiders' struggles away from home – just two of their nine wins occurred away from Canberra Stadium.
| Trial Games
|
| Round |
Opponent |
Result |
Can. |
Opp. |
Date |
Venue |
Crowd |
Position
|
| Trial Match |
Brisbane Broncos |
Loss |
12 |
18 |
24 Feb |
Dolphin Park |
|
|
| Trial Match |
Wests Tigers |
Win |
26 |
4 |
3 Mar |
Davies Park |
|
|
| NRL Regular Season Games
|
| 1 |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Loss |
6 |
32 |
17 Mar |
Brookvale Oval |
13,533 |
16/16
|
| 2 |
Melbourne Storm |
Loss |
16 |
32 |
24 Mar |
Canberra Stadium |
9,556 |
15/16
|
| 3 |
Newcastle Knights |
Win |
48 |
18 |
30 Mar |
Canberra Stadium |
13,109 |
10/16
|
| 4 |
Parramatta Eels |
Loss |
6 |
38 |
7 Apr |
Parramatta Stadium |
10,091 |
14/16
|
| 5 |
Sydney Roosters |
Win |
37 |
28 |
16 Apr |
Canberra Stadium |
15,862 |
12/16
|
| 6 |
Cronulla Sharks |
Loss |
0 |
26 |
21 Apr |
Toyota Park |
9,289 |
15/16
|
| 7 |
Penrith Panthers |
Win |
34 |
18 |
28 Apr |
CUA Stadium |
8,494 |
12/16
|
| 8 |
Manly Sea Eagles |
Loss |
30 |
46 |
6 May |
Canberra Stadium |
14,387 |
14/16
|
| 9 |
South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Win |
16 |
10 |
12 May |
Telstra Stadium |
11,088 |
12/16
|
| 10 |
BYE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/16
|
| 11 |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
Win |
30 |
6 |
25 May |
Canberra Stadium |
13,187 |
7/16
|
| 12 |
Gold Coast Titans |
Loss |
8 |
28 |
3 Jun |
Carrara Stadium |
13,642 |
9/16
|
| 13 |
Parramatta Eels |
Win |
38 |
10 |
9 Jun |
Canberra Stadium |
11,232 |
8/16
|
| 14 |
Newcastle Knights |
Loss |
18 |
22 |
18 Jun |
EnergyAustralia Stadium |
11,349 |
9/16
|
| 15 |
North Queensland Cowboys |
Loss |
24 |
28 |
23 Jun |
Canberra Stadium |
11,263 |
13/16
|
| 16 |
Wests Tigers |
Loss |
22 |
16 |
1 Jul |
Canberra Stadium |
12,598 |
13/16
|
| 17 |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
Loss |
16 |
58 |
8 Jul |
WIN Stadium |
7,561 |
14/16
|
| 18 |
Gold Coast Titans |
Win |
56 |
10 |
15 Jul |
Canberra Stadium |
|
13/16
|
| 19 |
Melbourne Storm |
Loss |
6 |
34 |
21 Jul |
Olympic Park |
8,983 |
13/16
|
| 20 |
Penrith Panthers |
Win |
34 |
30 |
27 Jul |
Canberra Stadium |
|
10/16
|
| 22 |
Canterbury Bulldogs |
Loss |
4 |
52 |
12 Aug |
Telstra Stadium |
|
14/16
|
| 23 |
New Zealand Warriors |
Win |
26 |
24 |
18 Aug |
Canberra Stadium |
8,134 |
12/16
|
| 24 |
Brisbane Broncos |
Loss |
19 |
30 |
26 Aug |
Suncorp Stadium |
|
14/16
|
| 25 |
Cronulla Sharks |
Loss |
12 |
22 |
1 Sep |
Canberra Stadium |
|
14/16
|
| Colour |
Result
|
| Green |
Win
|
| Red |
Loss
|
| Yellow |
Golden point Win
|
| Blue |
Bye
|
Melbourne Storm
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
North Queensland Cowboys
New Zealand Warriors
Parramatta Eels
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Brisbane Broncos
Wests Tigers
Sydney Roosters
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Gold Coast Titans
St George Illawarra Dragons
Canberra Raiders
Newcastle Knights
Penrith Panthers