Even before they beat the Sydney Roosters, Glenn Lazarus thought his Canberra Raiders were a top-four side. Now, even more so.
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The Green Machine legend has been impressed with how the entire squad has lifted in the face of the mounting injury toll.
A crisis that shows no signs of abating as they prepare to play South Sydney at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Not only does Lazarus rate Josh Papalii as the top of the props, but he's also been impressed with Ryan Sutton, George Williams and back-up hooker Tom Starling.
He's liked Sutton's hard running and tackling and felt Williams had settled into life in the NRL since his move from the English Super League.
Especially with the try Williams scored against the Roosters - darting straight through the middle of their defensive line - something Lazarus didn't think many halfbacks were capable of.
Everyone has had to lift because of the growing number of injuries - up to eight players could be sidelined for the Rabbitohs, although Curtis Scott was likely to return from an arm infection.
But even without the likes of Josh Hodgson (knee) and John Bateman (shoulder), Lazarus still felt the team that knocked off the Roosters in Thursday's grand-final rematch could push for the top half of the eight.
"While we'd love all our players back - I got asked last week 'Can we consider Canberra a top-four side?'" he said.
"Absolutely. Absolutely with what we've got there. They are well and truly a top-four side and we saw that last night."
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It was something not many pundits would've considered before the Roosters win, with many deeming the Raiders' season over.
But next minute that's all changed with a win Lazarus labelled one of the best in the club's history.
He felt they'd shown glimpses of what they were capable of without Hodgson in the narrow loss to the Melbourne Storm the week before.
The two-time premiership Raider felt coach Ricky Stuart was the perfect man to galvanise the Green Machine in this time of crisis.
Lazarus felt the Raiders were in a better position to cover the loss of star hooker Hodgson, with Siliva Havili and Tom Starling filling the England international's boots.
"Starling came on and did a wonderful job. I know we'd all love Joshy Hodgson playing, but I feel Havili and Starling are going to be able to cover Josh until he gets back," Lazarus said.
"From what I saw [Thursday] night I think we're in a better position than what the Raiders were [two years ago] when Joshy came back [from his first knee reconstruction].
"This time I think Ricky and [Canberra chief executive Don Furner] have got a squad together that can cope with a couple of injuries and they showed [against the Roosters] they can do that.
"I think the organisation's looking pretty good to be right up there again as they were last year."
NRL ROUND 11
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v South Sydney Rabbitohs at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.