Something suspicious is happening in the national capital.

It has nothing to do with the politicians that spend too much of their precious time taking pot shots at each other. Nor does it involve Canberra’s infamous fireworks and pornography cartel.

The city’s NRL team, the Raiders, the team I barrack for, is turning into the “Faiders”. Instead of plonking on their two-horned helmets and declaring war on their rivals, everyone’s jumping ship.

The first signs that something was stinking up the joint at Bruce Stadium came back in 2006, when gun fullback Clinton Schifcofske announced his departure.

Not only did he want out of the Raiders, he wanted out of league altogether, signing with the Queensland Reds.

Now, I know the Raiders haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire in recent seasons, but they’re not as inept as the Reds.

It’s like Wayne Rooney volunteering to leave Manchester United to play for Havant and Waterlooville. In other words, he REALLY must have wanted out of the Green Machine.

That same year a massive amount of talent and experience departed for greener (or not as green, depending on your viewpoint) pastures.

Bizarro world’s fitness freak Jason Smith, Caloundra’s own Adam “Moggoundra” Mogg, Jason Croker and Simon Woolford all moved to different clubs.

Not only that, coach Matty Elliott decided he’d had enough as well and shifted himself and his clipboard to the Panthers.

So, with that in mind, can someone please explain to me how Canberra was found to be in excess of the salary cap last year? Anybody?

It seems things are only going to get worse with Raiders playmaker and arguably their best player, Todd Carney, looking likely to sign with Manly or Penrith.

The Gold Coast Titans are also reportedly planning an ambush to lure quality young Queensland-bred fullback William “Zip Zip” Zillman to the glitter strip.

It has to be more than just the cold weather that has seen such an exodus in such a short period of time.

Things are looking so bleak, the Raiders have had to resort to recruiting players that can’t go to training without the permission of their parole officer.

Forwards Dane Tilse and Neville Costigan, shown the door by Newcastle and the Broncos respectively for off-field indiscretions, have taken their second chance with both hands.

I can stomach that. But if they sign Western Force numbskull Matt Henjak, then I may be the next to abandon ship.

Costigan was quoted in the most recent edition of Rugby League Week as saying that should Carney leave the club, he would love to see the Raiders sign Henjak.

“He (Henjak) has made a mistake but so did I and I managed to turn it around for the better and so can Matt,” the Maroons forward reportedly said.

Sorry, Neville. After reading a story the Sun Herald did on Henjak recently, this isn’t a leopard who is about to change his spots.

“I’ve spent all my working life training to play professional rugby here in Australia and now that’s been taken away from me,” he told the paper.

Matty, you broke your team-mate’s jaw and he’s been eating his steak through a straw the past few weeks. The only person who took away your career was you.

Show some remorse, for goodness sake.