If ever a reminder was needed of the greatness of the Canberra team of the early 1990s, it was evident at the NRL’s Hall of Fame dinner.
The league’s gala event on Wednesday night almost turned into a reunion dinner for the great Raiders team of the early 1990s.
No less than six of them are now members of the Hall of Fame, with Ruben Wiki having now joined Steve Walters, Glen Lazarus, Mal Meninga, Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley.
Meninga is also another step above, having been bestowed with the game’s top honour as an immortal last season.
Tim Sheens could also join them in the Hall of Fame coming years, with coaches set to be introduced as of next season.
The Raiders won three premierships between 1989 and 1994, while they also lost grand finals in 1987 and 1991.
It’s a record better than even that of the current all-dominant Melbourne team, who have taken two titles and played in four deciders since the salary cap scandal in 2010.
“Yeah, well I reckon we could take them (Melbourne) on. Maybe in a game of tag now,” Wiki said.
“You look at the generation in the 1990s compared to now. The level of players has grown every year. It’s just so awesome for the game.
“A lot of teams back in the 1990s were pretty crazy sides.
“The Broncos had a pretty stacked side too. I’m just blessed I had the opportunity to play in the green jersey for so long.
“Hopefully I can take a photo and show my kids and say, this is the team I used to play for back in the day.”
Wiki’s induction alongside Stacey Jones meanwhile made them just the second and third New Zealanders to join the class.
A damaging centre early in his career, Wiki was moved to the second row by coach Meninga in 1990 before he eventually became a hard hitting prop.
He played a total of 311 NRL games across all positions before his retirement at the Warriors in 2008, and is still the most-capped Kiwis player with 55 Tests.
“This is the pinnacle, getting recognised as a hall-of-famer,” Wiki said.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen.
“To be in the presence of greatness. I saw my idol Mal Meninga on the stage at the beginning and I got goosebumps.”