Don Furner did as much as anyone to get the Raiders established as more than just a team to make up the numbers after their entry into the competition in 1982. And in the early years he often had to make do with rejects and cast off's from other clubs as his players.
I guess his biggest coup as Canberra coach was signing Mal Meninga and Gary Belcher from South Brisbane at the end of 1985. Then there was the recruitment of others such as Peter Jackson, Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Ricky Stuart and Glenn Lazarus. He put together a team that, salary cap issues in 1991 aside, would be a force to reckon with other the next 7-8 years.
He may not have been the one who took them to their first premiership win in 1989, but he was the main one who gave the club legitimacy by taking them to the 1987 Grand Final.
And lets not forget his record as Kangaroos coach. From 1986-1988 the Kangaroos played 15 tests. They won 13 of them including his last game in charge, the 1988 World Cup Final. His only loss as Australian coach came in the one off test against New Zealand in 1987.
Don Furner was also Easts coach when they played Manly in the 1972 Grand Final, their first Grand Final appearance since 1960.