Chinese tech firm signs deal with Canberra Raiders

Updated March 30, 2012 15:12:53

The Chinese technology company that has been banned from tendering for Australia's National Broadband Network has announced a sponsorship deal with Canberra's NRL team.

The Federal Government blocked Huawei's plans to tender for the NBN because of cyber security concerns.

The company has now signed a two-year deal, worth a reported $1.7 million, to be major sponsor of the Canberra Raiders.

David Wang from Huawei says the deal is part of the company's strategy.

"We set up offices here a long time and also have a longer vision in this country, so this opportunity is in line with our strategy," he said.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner says it is a fantastic deal and the club had been in talks with Huawei for some time.

"We've been in conversation with them now on and off for probably six months," he said.

"They were re-evaluating a lot of what they did. They had a lot of proposals across their desk from all different sports and we were just very patient with them and we never put any deadlines on them and we just worked with them."

Huawei's founder used to work as an engineer with the People's Liberation Army, but the company has repeatedly denied any links with the Chinese military.

Huawei is China's largest privately owned company.

Tags: internet-technology, business-economics-and-finance, nrl, china

First posted March 30, 2012 15:12:53

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Broncos escape Canberra comeback

Updated June 12, 2011 17:00:00

A young Broncos side showed both their promise and fragility before sneaking home to a 25-24 golden-point victory over the Raiders at Lang Park on Sunday.

Experienced half-back Peter Wallace stood tall in the first period of extra time to land the winning field goal from 40 metres out after his side had thrown away a 24-0 lead with just over 15 minutes remaining.

"It felt really good off the boot and thankfully it went over," Wallace said of his 83rd minute winner.

"It has been 10 minutes of each game the last few weeks that has really let us down and today it nearly cost us again. Thankfully we won in the end."

Tries to stand-in captain Alex Glenn, Dale Copley and Gerard Beale in the first half followed by a Josh Hoffman four-pointer nine minutes after the break had the weakened Broncos on a fast-track to a valuable victory.

But Canberra dug deep and launched an amazing comeback, scoring four tries in the space of nine frenetic minutes to remarkably lock the scores at 24-24.

Josh Papalii came of the bench to score two of those while Glen Buttriss and Jarrod Croker crossed to lift the Raiders from certain defeat.

During the Raiders' period of dominance, the Broncos did not touch the ball for an astonishing 15 minutes.

"It's momentum, once you get it it's hard to stop sometimes, it took us 25 minutes to get it back today," Wallace added.

"It's a young team, you just have to learn when the other team get's that momentum to stop it straight away,"

After a pair of failed attempts by Corey Norman, Wallace took over the field goal duties in golden point and did not let his side down with a sweetly-hit one-pointer to win the match.

The Broncos now have a four-point buffer from sixth spot while Canberra sits dead last.

It was just the second win in 13 games by the Broncos without skipper Darren Lockyer, who along with Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Ben Hannant and Jharal Yow Yeh, was on Queensland Origin duty.

Canberra has won only two of its past 17 games in Queensland.

The Raiders failed comeback was in stark contrast to last week when they jumped to a 22-0 lead, only to be overrun 40-24 by North Queensland in Canberra.

Broncos: 25 (A Glenn, D Copley, G Beale, J Hoffman tries; P Wallace 3 conversions; penalty; field goal)

Raiders: 24 (J Papalii 2, G Butriss, J Croker tries; B Ferguson 4 conversions)

-ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, act, canberra-2600, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted June 12, 2011 16:12:00

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Canberra must build on Storm win: Tongue

Updated May 15, 2011 16:30:00

Canberra hopes to use its encouraging victory over the Melbourne Storm as a springboard to turn its disappointing NRL season around.

Canberra skipper Alan Tongue was relieved to see his side shock the high-flying Storm 20-12, but thought the result would count for little if his team did not build on it.

The Raiders, who were facing a record ninth successive loss heading into the AAMI Park match, dominated from the outset and rounded off an impressive performance with a brilliant solo try from speedster Blake Ferguson.

Tongue, who was the only player still in the line-up from their last victory in Melbourne way back in 2000, was delighted his team-mates played their natural game, rather than adopting a defensive mind-set once they had the early lead.

"One of the things that I'm most pleased coming out of that game is that we played with a fair bit of confidence," Tongue said.

"With the amount of losses that we've had there, to come out and play that against Melbourne and throw the ball around a bit and be pretty creative there, that's really pleasing because you can go into your shell.

"This is one of the toughest road trips in the competition, so there's plenty to take out of it.

"We talked about it ourselves - one win here doesn't make a season - we've got to back it up now and the good sides do that. We've got to back it up next week."

They face another tough challenge on Friday night when they host the Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium.

"I think it's about keeping our feet on the ground," coach David Furner said.

"I never question the character of this team and the players that are in it.

"We've got to do that against another very good side on Friday night."

With the bye next up for his side, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had no plans to recall his players early from a break to work on their the downfalls in the game.

"Everyone's going to be disappointed for a bit longer," he said.

"Overall, the boys have done a pretty good job, so we're going to have a bit of time off this week."

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, act, canberra-2600, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted May 15, 2011 15:14:00

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Knights travel to Canberra for clash with Raiders

Posted April 23, 2011 07:53:00

Newcastle Knights coach Rick Stone says the club's poor record in Canberra means little ahead of tomorrow's clash in the nation's capital.

The Knights have played the Raiders 18 times in Canberra, but have only come away with two wins.

Newcastle will welcome back second rower Corey Patterson from suspension for the game.

Mr Stone says the team is concentrating on improving, not on past performances.

"I don't think it means anything on Sunday when you've got to play 80 minutes," he said.

"The field is still the same. They've got 17 and we have as well.

"Canberra's always been a tough trip for us. We're steeling ourselves for a real resiliant performance and all we can do is make sure we're ready to play and we show the same sort of resilence that we've showed in most of our games so far."

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