Glen Hodgson has made peace with the grand final heartbreak he and every other Raiders fan had to endure 12 months ago, but taking revenge against the Sydney Roosters will still be sweet on Friday night.
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Hodgson was swept away by Raiders fever last year as the Green Machine charged into their first grand final since 1994.
The 58-year-old Canberra grandfather was in the crowd at ANZ Stadium 12 months ago when referee Ben Cummins fleetingly waved six again, before changing his mind with the score locked at 8-8. Just minutes later James Tedesco touched down and the Raiders' grip on a first premiership in 25 long years slipped away.
Hodgson will have to watch from home when coach Ricky Stuart and his men square off against the Roosters again, this time in a knockout semi-final at the SCG.
Many have written the Raiders off this year after injuries to key players during a coronavirus-interrupted season. But not Canberra fans. They still believe, and having a chance to end the Roosters' quest for three consecutive premierships is what they've been waiting for.
"They've [the Raiders] got the team, they've got the spirit and they've got the heart," Hodgson said.
"It's like a big family the whole lot of them the way they work together, even to be on the outside looking in, it's pretty special. It's like the town bonds to them but they're bonded together as well. Over the years they've all done good things.
It's pretty special. It's like the town bonds to them.
- Glen Hodgson
"You just know they're destined to come this year. They've waited long enough, 26 years is long enough."
Hodgson doesn't hold any grudges against the Roosters, or Cummins, for last year's grand final debacle.
"Ten minutes to go there's not much you can do about that," Hodgson said. "No ifs, no buts, no excuses, no one to blame."
He still rates it as one of the most memorable days of his 38 years as a Raiders supporter, joining in a stirring rendition of the Viking clap.
"It just brings everyone together as one, it's spiritual," Hodgson said. "It's one of those things, I think it's a magic spirit. It sounds good, it feels good and it gets everyone excited."
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Hodgson was barely 20 years old when the Raiders were founded in Queanbeyan. His uncle used to be a sin bin timekeeper, his brother played at under-21s level and in previous years Hodgson has also been a sponsor of the club.
His daughter Leeah was just one year old when the club won its first grand final.
"I didn't go to that grand final but it was my daughter's first birthday, we had about 20 people at the house and 19 of them all wore Tigers gear, it was a pretty special day that day," Hodgson said.
"It's a feeling you can't explain. It was a tight game and I'm sitting with 19 people going for the Tigers and they're all laughing at me."
Now, 31 years later, Hodgson is confident the Raiders are on track to win again.