It's starting to feel a lot like last year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ex-Canberra Raiders forward Troy Thompson says the Green Machine's starting to hit their straps and building towards finals - just like they did in 2019 when they made the NRL grand final.
The Raiders are on the verge of sealing a play-offs spot, which would see them face finals action in consecutive years for the first time since 2004.
Thompson was on the Canberra bench back then - coincidentally up against a Ricky Stuart-led Sydney Roosters in the semi-finals.
Since then the Raiders have never managed to make back-to-back finals campaigns, jumping in and out of the top eight.
But that's guaranteed to change this year if they win two of their remaining five games, with Stuart instilling a consistency into his charges.
Thompson was excited at the prospect as his old club prepares to play the bottom-placed Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
"Which is pretty crazy eh," he said of the 16-year gap.
"They're starting to hit their straps too - the last three weeks they've been bloody good.
"It's just starting to feel a bit like last year. There's nothing better than when you're leading into the semi-finals and you've got four-six weeks under your belt and you've won most games.
"It's starting to feel like last year when they started to hit their straps four weeks out."
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
Thompson felt the key to that had been the ability to win the games they're expected to - like they have over the past fortnight against the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans.
It's a similar challenge against a struggling Bulldogs, who have been competitive but struggled to win.
"When I was playing, some of the games you were expected to win you didn't," Thompson said.
"This year and last year the games that come up like that the boys have won and they've won convincingly."
While Stuart's labelled Whitehead one of the most underrated players in the NRL, Thompson certainly rates him.
He sees the England international as a key to Canberra's charge into potentially another play-offs.
Whitehead has been outstanding on the Raiders' left edge and has also been a mainstay of the side - playing 116 out of a possible 117 NRL games since joining the Green Machine in 2106.
Oh, and Josh Papalii's going OK as well.
"Papalii's been ridiculous. He's been so consistent and he's just getting better and better," Thompson said.
"So has Whitehead - him and Papalii have been the best on the field by far.
"They've got all the mixture of the right guys, but those two have been phenomenal.
"Whitehead just does all the little things ... but geez he's playing some good footy."
NRL ROUND 16
Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at Canberra Stadium, 6.30pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Nick Cotric, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Joe Tapine, 16. Ryan Sutton, 17. Matt Timoko. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 19. Harley Smith-Shields, 20. Kai O'Donnell, 21. Matt Frawley.
Bulldogs squad: 1. Will Hopoate, 2. Nick Meaney, 3. Marcelo Montoya, 4. Kerrod Holland, 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Lachlan Lewis, 8. Ofahiki Ogden, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Dylan Napa, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13. Aiden Tolman. Interchange: 14. Sione Katoa, 15. Renouf To'omaga, 16. Dean Britt, 17. Matthew Doorey. Reserves: 19. Luke Thompson, 20. Jack Cogger, 21. Reimis Smith, 22. Tim Lafai.