Viliame Kikau. David Fifita. Wade Graham? Maybe even John Bateman.

There's probably not many who would suggest Elliott Whitehead.

Which points to why Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said Elliott Whitehead was the most underrated player in the NRL.

And here's the stats that show why he can be labelled the Green Machine.

Not only is Whitehead the Raiders' leading try scorer, but going into the Raiders' round-nine clash with the Melbourne Storm his eight tries were more than any other second-rower in the competition.

Glance down to the line breaks stats and it's a similar story. Leading the Raiders with six, as well as his fellow second-rowers.

Whitehead's been in a purple patch the past few weeks, mixing up his show-and-go with a deadly passing game that's split defences apart.

It's not normally what you associate with Whitehead. His relentless defensive efforts maybe. Given he's in the top 10 for one-on-one tackles made - fifth for edge forwards.

It all comes together to prove Stuart's point.

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But the England international couldn't care less. And you'd expect nothing less from the hard-as-nails northerner affectionately known as "Smell". Speaking in a Yorkshire drawl that leaves all non-Canberrans scratching their heads.

"It doesn't bother me mate. I just turn up and do my job," Whitehead says when quizzed about Stuart's comments.

"I'm not really bothered if I'm underrated or rated. I just turn up and do my job for the team, and that's all I want to do."

He always prefers that job to be in the second row. The place he's made a name for himself.

But he's equally underrated in the middle. Which he showed with a stunning display against the Sharks down at Cronulla a few years back.

Not that he really wants to play there. He will if he must.

Instead, he'd rather be running rampant on the Raiders' left alongside Jack Wighton, Jarrod Croker and Nick Cotric.

A left edge that's become the Green Machine's best side. Both offensively and defensively.

The side you'd paint if you were doing a portrait. The side scoring 14 of their 26 tries, and only letting in six of their 19 conceded.

The bad news? Whitehead says they've still got some improvement in them. They're not quite purring yet.

"I've still got a bit of pace for an old lad," he said.

"We've been working with our combinations out left and it's coming off at the moment, but we've got a bit of improvement in us still.

"We'll keep working on that and hopefully we can keep improving, keep creating opportunities for one another."

Given the Raiders' current injury crisis - which seems to be almost exclusively contained to their middle forwards - Whitehead could find himself back doing stints through the central third.

But that's really the domain of another Green Machine. Josh Papalii.

Corey Horsburgh (foot), Sia Soliola (face) and Emre Guler (ankle). All out for extended periods. The first two potentially for the rest of the season. There's still John Bateman (shoulder) to come in.

The coronavirus pandemic also made the NRL unlivable for Luke Bateman and JJ Collins, which means the Raiders let them go.

They also let Jack Murchie move to the New Zealand Warriors to chase greater opportunities. Opportunities that would ironically be there for him at the Raiders now.

Instead it's opened the door for Kai O'Donnell to make his NRL against the Storm at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Also has the Raiders scouring the rugby league landscape looking to bolster their depth.

It will be up to Papalii to put the Green Machine on his back. Just like he did last year. Scoring match-winning tries in the Raiders' charge to the grand final.

Against South Sydney in the preliminary final. Against the Storm to start their run of three consecutive victories over the NRL benchmark.

Now Stuart's asking for him to do it again. Pick up the Green Machine pack and strap it to his back.

"Just his standing in the game, his seniority is going to be called upon and he understands it. He gets it," Stuart said.

"A number of times last year he threw the forward pack on his back and led from the front. That's what we're asking again.

"He'll be targeted. Opposition teams will know that and Papa's up for it.

"He's the sort of kid that was targeted last year too, but had a wonderful finish to the season and we're calling on that type of form again."

NRL ROUND NINE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Melbourne Storm at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hodgson (c), 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Kai O'Donnell, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Jordan Rapana. Reserves: 18. Tom Starling, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Darby Medlyn, 21. Curtis Scott.

Storm squad: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Marion Seve, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Paul Momirovski, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Ryley Jacks, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith (c), 10. Christian Welch, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 16. Tom Eisenhuth, 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Reserves: 18. Darryn Schonig, 19. Cameron Munster, 20. Brenko Lee, 21. Nicholas Hynes.