They might have lost some kilograms, but they've still got plenty of grunt.
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And the leader of this powerful forward pack? Josh Papalii.
The Raiders pack has trimmed down from the biggest in the NRL, but Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said it still had plenty of punch ahead of their clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
Stuart has readied his team for a Broncos backlash after the Queensland powerhouse's poor start to the 2019 campaign.
The Broncos have won just one game this season, while the Raiders sit third with just one loss.
But they'll arrive in Canberra buoyed by their recent record against the Green Machine, having won their past six encounters.
A quick look at the two teams' starting packs proves Stuart's point.
The Raiders' forwards weigh in at 511 kilograms between them with total average run metres of 534.
While the Broncos have a massive weight advantage at 630kg, they only average 532m between them.
The Raiders are getting more bang for their bucks.
"We've lost kilos, we haven't lost power. A lot of other people think kilos is probably power. I don't believe it that way," Stuart said.
And the leader of that pack? Papalii.
The quietly spoken Queensland State of Origin star is quick to dismiss talk of leadership whenever you raise the subject with him.
But Stuart said you don't need to make "Churchillian speeches" to be a leader. Actions speak louder than words.
Papalii has 232 post-contact metres this season, the most of any Raiders forward and about 40m more than any Bronco.
When the Raiders were camped on Parramatta's line last weekend, desperately trying to convert possession into points, it was Papalii who burst through to break the deadlock.
Plus he's highly respected by the players around him.
"He's really growing and maturing into being the boss of the forwards. It's been good for the players around him because all the boys love playing with Papa," Stuart said.
"They respect Josh and he leads by example, he doesn't talk a lot.
"[He's] a different leader. You don't need to be giving Churchillian speeches, you don't need to be the loudest voice to be a leader.
"Sometimes those type of leaders are all talk and no action. Papa's all action."
Stuart was preparing for embattled NSW centre James Roberts (Achilles) to play on Saturday.
Roberts has been surrounded by controversy after photos emerged of a drunken night out while injured.
He reportedly trained well on Thursday and could come off the bench in place of Gehamat Shibasaki, with Kotoni Staggs keeping his starting spot in the centres.
"I'm expecting him to play, but they've got a good right centre fill-in for him if they're not," Stuart said.
"Whoever plays is going to be up for a game of footy, so they're going to be motivated to perform well.
"We've just got to make sure we perform well with them."
JJ Collins will make his Raiders debut off the bench.
He played 15 NRL games for Wests Tigers and Newcastle before arriving in Canberra this season.
Collins impressed in the pre-season trials and Stuart said that form had continued in NSW Cup for Mounties during the opening rounds.
The 23-year-old gets his chance following Joe Tapine's ankle injury, which will see the New Zealand international sidelined for about three months.
Stuart said Collins, along with Corey Horsburgh, was one of "four or five" players who will get their chance over the next "6-10 weeks".
"He's had a really good off-season and he's taken that form into the trial matches and his early part of the season with Mounties," he said of Collins.
"He's played really well, but there's three or four others there who have done the same thing and they're keeping everybody honest above them."
NRL ROUND SIX
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium, 5pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Hudson Young, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. JJ Collins. Reserves: 18. Aidan Sezer, 19. Corey Horsburgh, 20. Jack Murchie, 21. Bailey Simonsson.
Broncos squad: 1. Darius Boyd (c), 2. Corey Oates, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Jack Bird, 5. Jamayne Isaako, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Kodi Nikorima, 8. Payne Haas, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Joe Ofahengaue, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. David Fifita. Interchange: 14. Gehamat Shibasaki, 15. Jaydn Su'A, 16. Thomas Flegler, 17. Patrick Carrigan. Reserves: 18. Shaun Fensom, 19. Patrick Mago, 20. James Roberts, 21. Richard Kennar.