Great NRL expectations for Raiders
Feb 22, 2017 - 1:19 AM With expectations skyrocketing after Canberra almost secured a shock grand final berth, the Raiders have a golden opportunity to break a 23-year premiership drought.Coach Ricky Stuart says it's a good sign they are tipped to push for the title and admits internal expectations are higher than previous years.
"You work very hard to have these expectations from people," Stuart told AAP.
"It's not a bad thing, if you're tough enough you can handle it."
While a better-than-expected last season has them in title conversations, Stuart has a blunt assessment of last year's 14-12 preliminary final exit at the hands of Melbourne.
"We weren't good enough last season and this year is now a challenge to see if we are - I can't answer that yet," he said.
The Green Machine have struggled to string back-to-back finals appearances in recent years with 2002-04 the only time they qualified for the NRL playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Stuart has maintained a commitment to setting the club up for an extended run of success.
"I publicly said when I got here that my job was to turn this club into a competitive club again and we are so we want to stay competitive," he said.
As a player Stuart was a part of the club's golden era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, but comparisons between the two groups hold little weight.
"We have our own brand, we have our own style," Stuart said.
"I'd be silly to compare individuals or compare teams."
The Raiders' style has been built on free-wheeling attack with last year's team scoring a club record for points, surpassing the 1994 premiership side.
"I think we've got our own style both defensively and with our attack," Stuart said.
"We've got to keep nurturing it and keep growing it."
Jordan Turner has arrived from English Super League side St Helens and has the ability to play in the centres, second row or the halves.
The forward pack is set to be boosted by former State Of Origin star Dave Taylor, who has been offered a contract after impressing on a train-and-trial deal in the off-season.
Former St George forward Dunamis Lui is another recruit pushing for a spot on the bench.
With skipper Jarrod Croker set to miss the early stages of the season with a knee injury, Turner and highly-rated youngster Nick Cotric are in the running to fill in at centre.
Eighteen-year-old Cotric's speed and footwork helped earn him a full-time contract, but Stuart doesn't want to put unnecessary pressure on rising stars by publicly stating they are in line for first-grade selection.
"I talk to them all the time and they know where they stand," Stuart said.
Culture is king under Stuart who is hoping the combination of talent and belief can deliver his beloved Raiders the ultimate success.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Premierships: 3 - 1989, 1990, 1994
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2016 - 2nd, 2015 - 10th, 2014 - 15th
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Jarrod Croker
Gains: Jordan Turner (St Helens), Dunamis Lui (Dragons), Makahesi Makatoa (Bulldogs), Scott Sorensen (Mounties), Brent Naden (Mounties), David Taylor (Catalans)
Losses: Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Sisa Waqa (rugby union), Zac Woolford (Bulldogs), Sam Williams (Wakefield), Brenko Lee (Bulldogs), Paul Vaughan (Dragons)
Strength: The Raiders' scintillating attack will be out to prove they are the best in the competition. An imposing forward pack should allow halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin to thrive in their second season together.
Weakness: Entering the season as genuine premiership contenders, will a relatively young team be able to cope with high expectations? The opposition will also not underestimate the Raiders as they push to end their premiership drought.
Best team: Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee, Jarrod Croker, Joey Leilua, Jordan Rapana, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Shannon Boyd, Josh Hodgson, Junior Paulo, Elliott Whitehead, Josh Papalii, Sia Soliola. Interchange: Joseph Tapine, David Taylor, Clay Priest, Luke Bateman.
Predicted finish: 2nd
Betting: $9
Source: AAP
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