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When the Raiders rugby league Premiers took on the team at the top of the Fox Memorial Championship leaderboard, Te Atatu Roosters, at Stanmore Bay on Saturday, August 10, they were playing for pride.
At half time the score was 6-26 in the Roosters’ favour, but coach Bluey McClennan’s half time talk and the wind behind their backs, saw the Raiders put on points in the second half. Although the Roosters eventually took the game, 14-42, the Raiders had given their supporters a good, competitive match as well as a season to be proud of.
The Raiders ended up at the bottom of the eight-team table, but coach Bluey McClennan says the promotion of the side into the Fox Memorial championship was a huge win in itself.
He says the club’s biggest challenge has been building depth – creating a reserve grade team, so there are players to call on when there are injuries in the senior side.
“To build a top side, you need two or ideally three sides,” Bluey says. “I’m so proud of every player who pulled on a Raiders jersey this year,” he says.
He says all the players are keen to go again next year – and Bluey is also in for the long haul.
“I got my start at Raiders as a player and coach and I will end my coaching career there. It’s only fair to give back,” he says.
“Next year we will come back with a bigger, fitter and stronger squad. We want to be qualifying again, as we did this year, and believe next time we can make the top four.”
On a more personal note, Bluey noted the huge support he received when his father collapsed in the clubrooms during the second half of the game and was taken to hospital.
“The way we Raiders came together to help out the old boy makes us McClennans feel very humble,” he says.
