From ''giggling school girls'' to a focused premiership contender, Canberra Raiders second-rower Joe Picker insists the Green Machine is better placed for a charge to the title than it was two years ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And there's a simple reason behind Picker's belief the Raiders can advance to their first preliminary final in 15 years - ''we're calm''.
Picker will return to the Raiders' starting side for their semi-final clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night. There are nine Raiders who were part of the club's charge into the second week of the finals in 2010 before they were bundled out in a heart-breaking loss to the Wests Tigers.
The mid-season revival and wave of momentum creates glaring similarities between two years ago and now.
But Picker, 24, says there's one distinct difference. ''We were probably over-excited for that game two years ago,'' Picker said
''I remember a session the week before the Tigers game, we were running around like giggling school girls.
''Blokes were that excited, we were giggling and laughing and couldn't concentrate on anything, we just wanted to play.
''We're excited this year, but we're calm, switched on … we know what has to happen, everyone knows how hard it is to get here.
''We're not jittery or nervous, we just know what's going on and what we have to do.''
Picker is one of the most experienced finals players in the Raiders squad. He made his play-off debut in 2008 and played in both games two years ago.
But he has battled through a frustrating year punctuated by inconsistent form and an infected boil that led to golden staph.
He played just 13 minutes in the Raiders' win over the Sharks last weekend and failed to make a tackle or run the ball.
It's hardly the ideal preparation for taking on 122-kilogram David Taylor to help protect halfback Sam Williams, but Picker is adamant he's ready.
After having surgery on his infected arm at Newcastle in June, Picker wasn't allowed to run and some days he would simply walk around the streets of Dickson frustrated and angry. But he forced his way back into the squad and has been on the bench for every game since round 17.
''I was like Forrest Gump, I'd just put on my runners and walk around the streets for an hour or two doing nothing with nowhere to go.
''Ask me eight weeks ago about this year and I would tell you I'd rather forget it. But now we've got a roll on and we want to make the most of it. The year has definitely been a rollercoaster for me.''
