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Neil Henry is patient, methodical and most importantly he believes.
The Raiders coach speaks thoughtfully about a squad of NRL players he has now had 12 months to shape and a club that, he says, now has the staff needed to make 2008 a successful season.
In 2007 Canberra were pegged as certain wooden spooners. They avoided that humiliation when 14th but at times they played like a team destined for the very bottom of the table. At other times the attacking flair of players like gifted halfback Todd Carney and fullback William Zillman handed out floggings to more fancied rivals.
Henry believes 2008 will be markedly different.
“There were some big changes at the end of 2006,” Henry told AAP in his office not far from the Raiders’ home at Canberra Stadium and the Australian Institute of Sport.
“Last year it took us a while to work in together. The players now, certainly they’ve voiced their feelings that they’re much more comfortable with the style of play.
“We have had a whole year of doing things a bit differently so their starting point is much more advanced from last year.”
With no great expectation of immediate success on him, Henry has a chance to build a team from the ground up – something he’s only halfway through.
There were nine changes made last year to the Raiders’ top 25 players – a sign of the pace and decisiveness with which Henry is moving.
“The guys that came here last year have certainly settled in much more now to Canberra and to the club as well.
“The players are much more confident with what they’re doing, they’re a little bit stronger, a little bit faster – it’s all positive to start the season.”
Despite all the optimism, Henry admits there is plenty of improvement needed and planning is in place to achieve it.
“Defensively we conceded a number of points at times (in 2007).”
That’s an understatement. The Raiders ran second to Newcastle in points against last year, letting in 117 tries and eventually conceding 652 points.
“Our ability to score points wasn’t too bad for most of the year,” Henry says. “But we leaked too many points.
“We have worked fairly hard on our defensive structure on the off season and our ground work in particular.
“A lot of our defensive lapses came on the back of poor ball control, even though we could score points at various times in the year we turned the ball over too cheaply on a regular basis.
“All the players have acknowledged that.”
Defence will certainly be the deciding factor in where the Raiders finish in 2008.
Their attack is further bolstered by the return of centre Joel Monaghan from the Roosters.
It only needs guidance and shape from Henry and this year it will be even more effective if playmaker Carney can play a whole season. Last year he was suspended by the club after a run in with the law.
It’s something of which Henry is keenly aware.
“There was some change there last year. Todd stood out for six weeks so that necessitated a (Michael) Dobson and (Terry) Campese combination.
“It gave them experience to get a bit of a combination going for a block of time but you would have to say Todd is our number one half when he is fit and right to go.”
The Raiders’ first game is on Saturday March 15 away to Newcastle, it’s a game between two teams and two coaches who all have more than a little to prove.
Canberra Raiders factbox for 2008
Canberra
Year entered premiership: 1982
Home ground: Canberra Stadium
Premierships: 3
Finishes over the past three years: 2007 – 14th; 2006 – qualifying finals; 2005 – 14th.
Coach: Neil Henry
Captain: Alan Tongue
Gains: Joel Monaghan (Roosters)
Losses: Matt Bickerstaff (released), David Howell (Harlequins UK), Andrew Duneman (Northern Pride), Jason Williams (Wynnum-Manly)
Money Man: Todd Carney spent six weeks on the sideline last year after a run in with the law. He says he’s a changed man. The Raiders will be hoping so because he is the attacking linchpin of a side unafraid to throw the ball around. If he can stay on the field the green machine may surprise.
One to watch: William Zillman suffered a shocking anterior cruciate ligament injury last year and has spent the off-season slowly rebuilding his strength. Lightning speed and line-breaking ability make Zip-Zip Zilly worthy of the one to watch tag.
Best team: William Zillman, Colin Best, Bronx Goodwin, Phil Graham, Joel Monaghan, Terry Campese, Todd Carney, Alan Tongue, Neville Costigan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Dane Tilse, Lincoln Withers, Troy Thompson. Interchange: Glen Turner, Nigel Plum, Michael Dobson, Marshall Chalk.
Premiership odds: Centrebet $81, SportsBet $81.
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