So to expect them to emulate that effort within the next two years is too much for many of the club's fans to begin to contemplate.

But with the help of a little crystal-ball gazing The Canberra Times has discovered the Raiders' premiership drought will be broken in the very near future.

That's right, 2011 is set to be the year of the Raider.

With NSW State of Origin stalwart Terry Campese calling the shots and recently-appointed Australian fullback Josh Dugan providing the flair, the Raiders will shock their opposition in a effort that brings back memories of the Wests Tigers' fairytale premiership in 2005.

Okay, so we can't really see into the future.

But if coach David Furner and chief executive Don Furner have got their long-term planning as right as they think they have, the idea of the Raiders being an NRL force in 2011 isn't as ridiculous as some may think.

At the moment the Raiders have a squad that is high on potential, but low on experience in key areas.

But in two years' time the likes of talented youngsters Dugan, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot and Travis Waddell will have played 40-plus NRL games.

If they continue to improve at the rapid rate they did last season they'll be up there with the better players in the competition come finals time in 2011.

Dugan in particular could quite easily be challenging the very best fullbacks in the game should he keep injuries at bay and his head screwed on right.

Then there's the likes of Campese, Bronson Harrison, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and David Shillington.

These are players whose ages range from 24 to 26. They are still at least a couple of years away from their peak, but all played representative football in 2009.

Players like Joel Monaghan, Josh Miller, Alan Tongue and Troy Thompson should then provide the crucial experience required to help Canberra be a top side in two years' time.

This is assuming Tongue and Thompson extend their contracts beyond next season.

If all of those elements are in place it's certainly not out of the question for the Raiders to be a force in the NRL in 2011.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times