RAIDERS chairman John McIntyre describes it as the ''biggest rollercoaster ride'' of Canberra's 32 seasons, while former player David Barnhill says it ranks worse than the club's 1991 salary cap scandal.
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Son of Raiders founder Les McIntyre and the club's original chief executive, John McIntyre conceded Canberra's 2013 season was one of the toughest he had experienced.
''If not the toughest,'' McIntyre said.
Apart from the long list of off-field scandals, McIntyre said on-field performances could be summed up by Canberra's performances against Melbourne.
In round eight the Raiders became the first team to beat the Storm this year, while in round 23 Canberra suffered a record 68-4 loss to Melbourne at Canberra Stadium.
''You'd probably call it the biggest rollercoaster ride we've had in the 32 seasons.''
McIntyre resigned as Raiders chief executive in 1991 when it was discovered the star-studded club had breached the then $1.5 million salary cap by $600,000.
He rated sacking coach David Furner three weeks ago as his toughest personal moment at the club, since standing down in 1991.
Barnhill, part of the player purge at Canberra following the '91 scandal, rated the ongoing dramas of this year as the greatest upheaval in the club's history.
From Josh Dugan's axing at the start of the year, to Blake Ferguson's dismissal, the departure of coach Furner and the drug suspension of Sandor Earl, the Raiders have lurched from one nightmare to the next.
''Maybe it is worse than what we went through in '91,'' Barnhill said.
''They've had key players out injured and ongoing issues with Blake and Josh Dugan, who are two star players.
''You can't get any worse than that.''
Glenn Lazarus, Barnhill, Brent Todd, Nigel Gaffey and Paul Martin were among the exodus at the end of the season to allow the Raiders to get back under the cap.
Barnhill said the constant distractions this year had derailed the Raiders' season at every turn, whereas the drama in 1991 was not until the end of the year.
Barnhill played 40 games for the Raiders from 1989 to 1991 before he was forced out. He joined the St George Illawarra Dragons, featuring in three grand finals in 1992, 1993 and 1996 as well as playing in nine Origins for NSW.
''It was disappointing, I had a two-year deal, that was just life for the club,'' Barnhill said.
''The players had to take a 10 per cent cut for the club to survive, which all players agreed to do.
''But doing that, it made all contracts null and void and you had to renegotiate.
''No one wanted to leave Canberra because we had something really special, but the club had to make a decision about which players they wanted to keep and which had to leave.
''I left on very good terms.''
Barnhill said players weren't informed of the club's plight until late in the season, the Raiders making a late charge to their fourth straight decider before losing to Penrith.
''If anything, it galvanised the side,'' Barnhill said.
