When the Canberra Raiders come to Wagga in 2019 play an NRL match, it will have been about 25 years since super fan Tony Scutti last saw the club in the City of Good Sports.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The news that the Green Machine and Wagga City Council had struck a deal for premiership games next year and 2020 has the super fan all giddy.
“I was like a kid in a lolly shop the last time they were here,” Mr Scutti said.
“It was around the time they last won the grand final in the mid 90s.”
He has been a club member for the past 10 years and he and his family have attended most home games in Canberra for the past few years.
“We’ve been been going back and forth, even for the night games and don’t get back until after midnight,” Mr Scutti said.
“Sometimes we pick up friends from Cootamundra, too.”
I was like a kid in a lolly shop the last time they were here.
- Tony Scutti, Canberra Raiders fan
Walking into his garage, it is adorned with Raiders memorabilia – including framed photos and jerseys, flags, playing cards, stubby holders, dartboard and a club-themed golf-club set.
A bar and flat-screen TV top off the decorations.
“It’s taken me 17 years to collect all this and about 12 months to set it up,” Mr Scutti said.
He said his favourite memorabilia item was the 1989 grand final jersey that has most of the players’ signatures.
“My brother picked it up at St Vinnies for me for $8 and it’s worth about $1000,” he said.
Asked about how he learnt about the Raiders coming, he said it was via Facebook.
“It’s great for the city, people will bring money to the area and good for country footy,” Mr Scutti said.
“I remember when I was a kid, I met Ricky Stuart and Brad Clyde – it was huge for me back then.”
His 14-year-old son, Cooper, also a Raiders fan, said he was also keen on attending the games.
“I’m a big fan, but not as much as dad, but I still them watch them,” Cooper said.
The duo were part of the under 10s’ Wagga Brothers Junior club that won a premiership together four years ago when Mr Scutti coached and Cooper played.
Mr Scutti said the Raiders’ had a good fanbase in Wagga and that attendees from all over Australia would only benefit the city.
Fellow Raiders fan Karlie Hearne in Yass agreed, saying she hoped it would mean more games in rural areas.
“It’s a great idea for people who can’t get to Canberra and it’s a show of regional support by the club,” Ms Hearne said.
“It’s good for games to go to more regional areas, I’m looking to drop by Wagga [for the games] if I can.”
Announcement of the deal between Wagga City Council and the Raiders were made following the council’s meeting on August 27.
The council’s general manager Peter Thompson said attracting events such as NRL premiership games aligns with the Wagga View 2040: Community Strategic Plan.
