This cool, calm attitude was reflected by every one of his teammates. In the opposition room sit the heavy favourites swamped by an air of tension.

No prizes for which side came out on top in the NRL grand final that night in 2003. Same goes for the relaxed underdogs who took the week in their stride two years prior and toppled the side which had just completed the best season the competition had seen.

Can the Canberra Raiders mirror that success? They are rank outsiders in a two-horse race. The Sydney Roosters stand as red-hot favourites to do something no side has done for 26 years.

"But that's just because someone has to be," former Raiders captain Terry Campese said.

So can the Green Machine upset the apple cart? "Definitely".

The first hit. The opening set. The first points. The importance of getting off to a solid start cannot be understated - should they fall behind early, the Raiders may struggle to get themselves into the game.

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For the Raiders, front-rower Josh Papalii is the man to lay the platform. He is coming off one of the finest individual finals performances we have seen in years.

Then there is Josh Hodgson. Canberra's attack hinges on their hooker, and they have to take every single opportunity against a frugal Roosters outfit. As Laurie Daley says when the Raiders get an opportunity, "you can't waste them".

It would be easy to say shutting down James Tedesco puts the Raiders in the box seat. Mal Meninga sees one little problem with that - he thinks "you can't".

But the Raiders are well-placed to limit his impact should they manage to carry the defensive intensity that booked them a place in the grand final into the decider.

"The adversity the Raiders had to put up with on the weekend, there were a few calls that could have seen them lose concentration but they continued to lift," Campese said.

"Defensive-wise, Jesus Christ, I've never seen a defensive effort like that in a long time. There was some pretty physical defence. If they take that same attitude, I'm sure they will, it's going to be a cracking match."

Think Mal Meninga's ankle tap on Mick Neil.

Success in rugby league boils down to having the structural parts of your game right - much like the Roosters have week in, week out. But this Raiders outfit has something special.

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"The more adversity that gets thrown at them, the more they rise to the challenge and want to play for each other," Raiders great Alan Tongue said.

"They've been behind by 18 points and had people in the sin-bin, and it has actually been when they have gone and played their best footy.

"I don't think you can put numbers on that, it's just a feeling. It's through that connection and mateship, the will for each other."

NRL GRAND FINAL

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at Sydney Olympic Park, 7.30pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine. Interchange: 14. Bailey Simonsson 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Dunamis Lui. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Ryan Sutton 20. Siliva Havili 21. Sebastian Kris.

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14. Angus Crichton 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho. Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins 19. Drew Hutchison 20. Jake Friend 21. Ryan Hall.