Forget being chased by Freddy Krueger, free-falling, or being naked in public, winning the NRL wooden spoon is Canberra captain Terry Campese’s “worst nightmare”.
Unfortunately it’s now a distinct possibility for the Raiders, who have lost nine of their past 11 games to sink to second last on the ladder.
The Ricky Stuart-coached Raiders are only ahead of Cronulla due to a better for-and-against, and the two clubs are level-pegged as $1.90 favourites to finish the season last.
It would be a crushing reality check for Campese – who has faithfully served the club since debuting in 2004 – as the Raiders haven’t won the notorious award since their inception back in 1982.
Speaking at Raiders’ HQ on Friday, Campese addressed the Nightmare on Eade Street.
“I don’t want to finish off down there, it’s my worst nightmare to be honest,” Campese said.
“But we’ve just got to get out there and not look too far ahead – put all our energy into each week as it comes.”
For the Raiders that means preparing for Sunday’s clash against the Warriors at Canberra’s GIO Stadium.
They’ll have more to play for than just getting off the bottom of the log, however, as the Warriors thumped them 54-12 when the two sides last met in round nine.
“It still hurts that game,” Campese said.
“If it wasn’t for that and the Manly game (54-18), our season wouldn’t look as bad.
“We want to make up for that (Warriors) game.”
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