Saturday’s frustrating defeat to the struggling Cowboys has re-estabilised the Raiders’ premiership campaign, with the side back on course to approach September needing results to go their way.
But the Green Machine won’t be resting on its laurels, with its current injury crisis needing to be exploited if they are to deliver fans another underwhelming ninth-place finish.
The 22-16 upset at Canberra Stadium couldn’t have come at a better time for Ricky Stuart’s men, with concerns high after a trend of defeating the teams they should and losing to the teams they shouldn’t.
This saw the club bogged in an identity crisis inside the top four, with oddly stabilised fans almost becoming accustomed to a day-to-day life without the threat of a free-wheeling, lime-tinged cardiac arrest.
It was a far cry from recent years, when psychologists officially certified the Raiders as an emotion, resulting in Canberra Stadium being configured so it could easily bend into the foetal position.
The club’s worrying predicament was apparent early in the season, with their campaign immediately unraveling in Round 1 when they ably handled the Titans.
When Stuart’s side travelled north and calmly closed out a traditionally uneasy 18-point lead without imploding, the rugby league community sensed there was something seriously amiss.
By Round 5, the club had produced its best defensive start to a season since 1990. They were measured, reliable, and frankly, totally off-brand and somewhat offensive.
While the newfound identity may have provided a rare glimpse of normality for long-suffering rusted-ons, it has done nothing for their most ardent fans: the neutrals.
This beige, percentage game has been snubbed as we protest loudly for a return to their good old days, where blowing a lead after full time or hiring Dave Taylor was tame compared to drink driving and calling the police from your car to report yourself.
Luckily, three losses on the trot and a plague of injuries could mean a return of rugby league’s version of chasing a nuclear-grade curry with a Coke and Mentos.
While erratic Canberra’s resurrection means kicking over the defibrillator for their fans, it also indicates we are closer than ever to entertaining displays of volatility such as the coach kicking something plastic and inert, like Aidan Sezer.
(AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
On the other hand, perhaps this vintage has actually turned the corner, the one they’ve been bending around since 1995?
While morale has never really been an issue, there is something nauseatingly harmonious about the team this year.
Even a young man in Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad went to odd lengths to admit he is immensely enjoying his time living in the city, and it wasn’t even said at gunpoint.
Add to this Stuart’s streamlined pack, featuring 68 per cent more bite and bad teeth after recruiting half of England to replace Shannon Boyd, who now makes 83 metres a week in a different state.
This pivot to the Mother Country has been a tactical masterstroke by Stuart, not only because John Bateman is grouse, but because it exploits cheap trade before crook import laws take effect post-Brexit – and, like the experts have always said, there’s nothing to soothe another wasted season quite like avoiding international trade tariffs.
Finally, you can never write off a side ably shepherded by beloved stalwart Jarrod Croker.
They say the rock-solid centre is the perfect club man, not because he bleeds lime, but because he’s never in Origin contention.
With the fort being held by Canberra’s own Yahoo of centres – serviceable, effective, but never used – maybe the Nation’s Capital can again be a place visiting teams dread, despite being a haven of fireworks and cannabis.
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DingoGray
Roar Guru
Dane i really thought our last conversation was off record? Then I read this...... is nothing sacred anymore
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
AaaaAAAAAAAH!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Horsburgh is a beauty - expecting big things from him - think we picked him up from the Cowboys a couple of years ago
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Gotta love a good Ranga !!!
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Canberra look good on paper this year; they have been playing great footy; now comes the hard call ( I have been drinking), they could fluke it into the grand final. But then there is Sticky. Paradoxically, he could be their undoing. I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I wonder whether he has the brain to stay ahead as the leading teams evolve their strategies and plays now that they have seen what the rest of the Comp looks like.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Cheers jimmmy - and thanks for providing a bit of perspective. Last week's effort was very poor - probably the worst of the year in terms of attitude - but the performances over the whole year have been pretty good. The coaching staff and players have had a very different attitude this year - aiming up in defence in particular - and you're right - they have unearthed some very promising players in Horsburgh, Young, CNK and Simonsson and the recruitment of Bateman and Sutton on top of Whitehead and Hodgson have been great decisions. With all the injuries and a few close losses you tend to think - here we go - but maybe they can find a way to hang in there and end up making the 8 by season's end.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
They have a very competitive side this year Geoff. I am amazed at the young forwards they keep bringing out and the English recruiting has proved a master stroke. They were off their game last week. The previous game left them pretty flat. Origin may be a little difficult with Wrigton gone and the injuries don’t help but I reckon they will be thereabouts at the business end. They are also a very good team to watch play. That’s a bonus.
JVGO
Guest
Now they have so many Limeys in the team could the lime jerseys get even limer?
RuffRayder
Guest
Fireworks have been banned om Canberra for 10 years now...
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Good read and thanks for reminding me about 2018 Dane. It took me about 6 months of therapy to recover from some of those losses at the death after blowing big leads. I think the Penrith loss when they led by 10 points with 2 minutes to go took the prize for lack of game management. Thankfully in 2019 they have either stayed in control of matches or not been quite good enough to win. Plenty of time for that to change of course - and bringing back Aiden Sezer who was the architect for many of those implosions in the final 20 minutes last season fills me with a bit of dread and foreboding. Sitting in the top 4 for 10 rounds was a pretty heady experience virtually unknown to supporters like myself who climbed aboard in the early 2000s.
RandyM
Guest
"resulting in Canberra Stadium being configured so it could easily bend into the foetal position." pure gold.
Paul
Roar Guru
Great article Dane. I couldn't imagine a season without a Ricky Stuart tanty or a post match interview where Ricky makes a $10k donation to the NRL. Thankfully the ingredients are back in place for those sorts of things to happen, though sadly that does little for long suffering Raiders fans - unless they enjoy watching Stuart losing it.
kk
Roar Pro
Hi Dane, Love the way you break the line. Queensland went with Scomo (#1 @ Shark Shire) and the ACT stayed with Shorten (Fitzroy born Collingwood supporter). When NQ came to town the winning trend continued, the League gods giving the Cowboys a leg up. Ricky needs to replace the batteries in his defibrillator to get him through the season. The Vikings will still 'function' into the 8 and probably 4th if Bateman is fit and well.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
This article is right on the money.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Ricky had such a great career as a player , especially when Lazzo took a hit up and , Walters passed the ball to him and he looked outside to see Daley, Meninga or Mullins steaming on to the ball. He had a career almost as good in coaching with the Chooks and Australia but its been a tough decade since. They've got a squad just about good enough to challenge for the title but it could be hard without a great half back.
Chilli
Roar Rookie
Smile Ricky, It ain’t that bad!!