As eight NRL captains gathered in Sydney for the pre-finals captain's call, Canberra Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker was nowhere to be seen after an "extremely" disappointing season.
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Instead he was stuck in Canberra commiserating the end of the Green Machine's campaign after they finished a disappointing 10th on the NRL ladder.
Former Raiders skipper Alan Tongue says this year will go down in history "as a real disappointing season" for the hurting Raiders who will be forced to watch the finals at home.
The Raiders have failed to make back-to-back finals series in 13 years but this time there is an extra tinge of frustration in the air because they were supposed to be genuine contenders.
Tongue says the Raiders will be "extremely disappointed" after their campaign ended with a whimper in Melbourne.
"There was so much expectation and hype from the way they played and just that exceptional year they had last year," Tongue said.
"They really set a standard and they probably didn't meet those standards this year. But in saying that I really believe it can be a really valuable year for them if they learn some of that composure and what is needed in those tight losses just to get them over there.
"If they can really learn from this it can be a really valuable season for them going forward.
"The nucleus, they're all there again so they'll go through it again. If they're in those situations a second time and they learn from it, hopefully they'll be in a much better position."
The Raiders will boast a very similar squad next season having already extended the contracts of several big name players, and they could soon be boosted by the return of a local junior.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has confirmed the Green Machine would like halfback Sam Williams to make another return to the capital next season.
Williams would add some much-needed depth to Canberra's playmaking stocks, with rumours circulating Canberra could make a play for Newcastle half Jack Cogger down the track.
Dave Taylor has expressed second thoughts about joining the Toronto Wolfpack on a three-year deal while prop Charlie Gubb is set to come across the Tasman.
Tongue says the disappointment of falling one game short of a grand final last year would have "lit a little fuse" and expects it to go to a whole new level after Canberra fell well short of their own expectations.
The former Country Origin representative pinpointed fifth tackle options and completion rates as the Green Machine's Achilles heel.
It often stopped them from building sustained pressure and ultimately resulted in eight losses by six points or less.
But Tongue believes if the Raiders learn to fix those two areas, they can quickly rediscover the confidence that "started to slip" midway through 2017.
"It doesn't matter if you've got the best roster in the world or you're sitting last in the competition," Tongue said.
"If you don't control the footy when you have it or get the majority of it, it's really hard to win in the modern day game so there's a number of areas they can improve.
"That can happen in a season where you lose a few of those tight games and there is a bit more pressure from the position you are in on the ladder and things aren't quite going your way.
"But in particular, the crucial moments in crucial games that just some slight differences and slightly better options can make the world of difference.
"It might look like they need to change a huge amount but I don't believe there is. Slight changes can make a world of difference."
