Every game was a big adventure. Especially for the country blokes. Like Ashley Gilbert.
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Trips home were parties. Filled with beer and songs. All the way up the Hume Highway.
And you didn't miss what you didn't have. No centres of excellence. No weights. Just plenty of running.
That's something the Canberra Raiders of today have in common with the foundation players of 1982. As they go into the Green Machine's 40th season. The new rules have seen them hit the track hard over the pre-season.
But apart from that they're worlds apart. This year, the Raiders go in as one of the premiership fancies. Back then, they only won four games for the season. The first of which came after seven losses.
The morale never wavered though. Despite winning the club's only ever wooden spoon in that maiden season.
"It was like a big adventure for a lot of us, us country blokes," Gilbert said.
"We were playing against players we'd seen on TV and had them billed up to be superstars in our head.
"We were such a close bunch of blokes back in the day. We came from everywhere - North Queensland and local blokes and a sprinkling of players from Sydney.
"When we played at home at Seiffert Oval the crowd support was unbelievable. It made us feel like a million dollars."
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Gilbert was playing for Crookwell in group eight back in '81. When word filtered through the Raiders were on the way in. And he jumped at the chance to try out for the inaugural Green Machine.
One hundred and thirty three games and 42 tries later. And he was inducted into the club's hall of fame. It blew the farmer away to have his name alongside the likes of Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga.
"That was a huge surprise and a great honour," Gilbert said.
"Some of those guys that are in that hall of fame, they were the best players in the world in their position when we played.
"I was very humbled and quite overwhelmed being inducted into the hall of fame. It's something I cherish greatly, I tell you."
Gilbert was also blown away by the Braddon centre of excellence. Something the hard-nosed forward saw as an edge for the current Green Machine in their pursuit of the premiership.
Back then, there were no weights. If you wanted to do them, you had to sort it out in your own time. Now, there's weights as far as the eye can see.
Back then, if you wanted a massage you saw the bus driver. Or one of the injured guys. Now, there's almost more support staff than players.
"When we first started we had 50-odd players, three coaches and one trainer," Gilbert said.
"The blokes that used to do the massaging they were usually bus drivers and the injured guys.
"The support staff they've got now, there's nearly more of them than there is players.
"They certainly leave no stone unturned."
And how does Gilbert think the current crop will go this year? Off the back of a grand final and a preliminary final finish in the past two seasons?
Well he doesn't see their chances diminishing anytime soon. Having been impressed with the efforts of his old teammate and current Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
"I can see onwards and upwards for the Green Machine," he said.
"They say the window for the premiership is only open for a certain time, but with a facility like that and recruitment and good coaching Canberra are going to be at the pointy end of the comp for a long time I'm thinking."
NRL ROUND ONE
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.
Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Ryan Sutton, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Ryan James. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Tom Starling, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Harley Smith-Shields.
Tigers team: 1. Daine Laurie, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. James Roberts, 4. Joseph Leilua, 5. AJ Kepaoa, 6. Moses Mbye, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. James Tamou (c), 9. Jacob Liddle, 10. Joe Ofahengaue, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Alex Twal. Interchange: 14. Tommy Talau, 15. Thomas Mikaele, 16. Stefano Utoikamanu, 17. Russell Packer. Reserves: 18. Jock Madden, 19. Michael Chee Kam, 20. Tuki Simpkins, 21. Alex Seyfarth.