Joel Monaghan has backed his former Raiders teammates to defy the bookmakers and launch a serious assault on the NRL premiership.
The Raiders are a $20 chance with ACTTAB to win the competition and longer outsiders with the NSW-based TAB Sportsbet ($26).
But with influential playmaker Terry Campese and NSW fullback Josh Dugan back to full fitness, Monaghan - in Sydney on a pre-season trip with English club Warrington - believes the Raiders will recapture their stunning form of 2010 and erase the painful memories of last year. The Raiders won just six of their 24 games in 2011 to narrowly avoid collecting the club's first wooden spoon since its inaugural season in 1982.
''I'd be surprised if they don't make top six or top eight,'' Monaghan said. ''With Campo being fit and Duges being fit... no disrespect to the other players, but there would've been five or six games that if Campo was playing they would've won.
''And you look at that, that's 10points and that puts us firmly in the eight.''
Campese played just eight minutes of last season because of knee and groin injuries. His absence forced halves partner Josh McCrone to take on greater responsibility in directing the team around the park.
McCrone responded with his best season since making his first-grade debut for the Raiders in 2009.
Monaghan said McCrone's mirrored Campese's step up in class after mercurial halfback Todd Carney was sacked by the Raiders in 2008.
Campese was rewarded with a spot on Australia's end of season tour to England and made his State of Origin debut the following year.
Campese has been training well and is on track for the club's first trial game against the Melbourne Storm in Albury on February11.
''Maybe Campo [being] out is probably the best thing that's happened to [McCrone],'' Monaghan said.
''When Toddy was moved on I think Campo came on in leaps and bounds.
''With those two [Campese and McCrone] firing I can't see why we can't make the top six minimum.''
Campese is just as optimistic.
''I think we're a top-four team, we've just got to get our combinations right - which we've been working hard on over the off-season,'' Campese said.
''A big thing is our defence as well.
''With all the personnel on the field, no injuries, I'm 100per cent confident in the squad we've got.''
TAB Sportsbet media manager Matt Jenkins said punters needed to be convinced of Campese's fitness before jumping on the Raiders bandwagon.
''The big question mark is Terry Campese, if he fires it does look well over the odds,'' Jenkins said.
''While all the raps are on Dugan, we've got Campese rated on his best form as their top player. With Canberra, they're never a popular team [for betting].''
Jenkins said it was the most open competition his company had rated, with the Wests Tigers slight favourites at $8.
RAIDERS TRIALS
February 11: v Storm at Albury;
February 18: v Bulldogs at Wagga Wagga.
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