Raiders enforcer Josh Papalii has revealed his side is even hungrier than 12 months ago, after the Green Machine's quest for back-to-back grand finals gathered further steam in Friday's pulsating win over the Sydney Roosters.
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An exhausted Canberra held off the fast-finishing premiers for a 22-18 win at the SCG, setting up a mouth-watering preliminary final against Melbourne next Friday in Brisbane.
It continued the club's remarkable journey in 2020 which has included relocating in preseason due to bushfires, oppressive COVID-19 bubble restrictions, and a mammoth injury toll.
"We're less experienced [than last year] but we've just got younger boys who are hungrier," Papalii said.
"Younger squads sometimes they're the best, they're hungry, and younger boys just love playing footy.
"Last year we were very experienced and we relied on that a lot. This year's been a rough year for every club and we're no different, we've suffered a lot of major injuries really early to key players as well.
"We got so close to winning the comp there last year. It would be nice to go back to the GF and another sea of green, but after tonight Sticky [coach Ricky Stuart] said the job's not done which is true."
Canberra's last match against Melbourne was a 20-14 home loss during which hooker Josh Hodgson went down with a season-ending knee injury. Around the same time the Raiders also lost veteran Sia Soliola, and key middle forwards Emre Guler and Corey Horsburgh.
"He [Stuart] brought me and Taps [Joseph Tapine] into his office and just said with all the middles going down, it's important for me and Taps to take charge," Papalii said.
"Boys like Nami [Dunamis Lui] stepping up and doing video sessions, Joseph being a younger squad member and also speaking up in meetings. That's been important to me and that's just helped me develop into a better leader.
"I just try and lead the forward pack the way I think I should. The boys jump on the wagon and they follow - we're all at one level and we try and go together."
Awaiting the Raiders in Brisbane is a refreshed Melbourne Storm side who advanced straight to the preliminary final after downing Parramatta last weekend.
Melbourne beat Canberra last time the two sides met, but the Raiders had won three matches prior against Craig Bellamy's charges including last year's qualifying final.
"I spoke to Craig yesterday, I just said I hope we get the chance to catch up next week and play against you guys," Stuart said after his side's semi-final win.
"It'll be another great game of football. They're a class team. The week off will help them, but then again we had the week off two weeks ago, which is why I rested my players against Cronulla in our last comp game.
"It was a risk, but now it's the rest we needed and we'll go into next week's game - we'll have a light week and get ready to play another tough one."
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Papalii said the Raiders were confident they could go one better this season.
"The belief is there, if we didn't believe we were going to win the comp we would've been out a few months ago," Papalii said.
"I'm proud of the young group that's come through. We're still trying to work on combinations. We've got players who are leaving next year and we want to leave them satisfied as well.
"They [Melbourne] are there for a reason because they're playing good footy, we finished fifth because we were a little bit complacent in some games."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
