After a terrific NRL season, Canberra fans have another reason to celebrate with favourite son Bradley Clyde to be inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions.
Clyde, one of game's greatest locks, played 214 first grade games and won two premierships at the Raiders and was a mainstay for NSW and Australia in the 1990s.
He will join more than 370 athletes from 55 sports - including 42 other league legends - in the NSW Hall of Champions during a ceremony at The Star Sydney on November 18.
John Holt OAM (surf life saving), Lauren Jackson AO (basketball), Brent Livermore OAM (hockey), Cheryl Salisbury (football) and Lisa Sthalekar (cricket) will also be inducted.
"It’s a massive honour," Clyde told pan66.com.
96. Bradley Clyde - Hall of Fame
"Certainly as a youngster I never thought I'd be considered alongside champions like Johnny Raper, Mick Cronin, Bobby Fulton and Graeme Langlands and all of the rugby league names that represent NSW in the Hall of Champions.
"Being out of rugby league completely, I don't get to talk as much rugby league [these days]. But these honours certainly allow you to reflect on the times you had.
"The greatest thing I take out of the game is the friendships; the people I would otherwise never have met that I got to meet as a rugby league player."
Clyde played 12 official State of Origin matches and was part of three series victories.
Certainly as a youngster I never thought I'd be considered alongside ... Raper, Cronin, Fulton and Langlands
Raiders, NSW and Test great Bradley Clyde
Already a NSW Hall of Famer, Clyde becomes the fourth Blues player of his era to earn selection in the Hall of Champions museum at Sydney Olympic Park.
"I was very proud to wear that sky-blue jersey. Every time you ran onto that field you were taking every New South Welshman along for the ride with you," Clyde said.
"We won quite a few series where we had some really talented players in that bunch."
While his beloved Raiders lost to the Roosters in the grand final, Clyde is excited about the future and believes they can sustain this year's success.
"I think a lot of their players really matured throughout the year," he said.
"A lot of them went from 50 to 100 game players over the last couple of years and I think we've noticed that. They've been able to make better decisions.
"For a while there, we were able to get in a position to win but haven't been able to close it out. I think now they know how to win those games."
The arrival of England playmaker George Williams in 2020 has Clyde hopeful that Canberra can take out the title - a feat they haven't achieved since Clyde's team won the competition in 1994.
"I think he'll really be a great addition. We haven't had a rock-solid No.7 for some time," Clyde said.
