It's a phrase that comes up all the time out at Raiders HQ. During press conferences. One-on-one chats with players. A message to the outside world that they're not going to sulk. Not going to use whatever's happened as an excuse.

Whether that's injuries or a controversial loss. Or even a co-captain stepping down or some hoo-ha created by a player's wife's social media post.

Now the Canberra Raiders have the perfect opportunity to prove it. To prove they're not going to scratch their football boots on any of those aforementioned stones.

What better way than to end a four-game losing streak and begin the climb back up the NRL ladder towards the top eight.

And all indications out of the Green Machine this week are that's exactly what they're intending to do.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has been impressed with the way they've trained. But he's not the only one. A raft of others have said the same thing. Including new co-captain Elliott Whitehead.

It's been a tough week for the Raiders. Something they haven't had to experience much in recent years.

But a losing streak can do that. Especially when you started the year as one of the premiership fancies.

This is an opportunity to prove they're still that. With an emphatic display against fellow strugglers, Newcastle.

Especially given what's to come in the weeks ahead. After a trip to Brisbane to face the Canterbury Bulldogs as part of Magic Round - COVID-19 permitting. An impressive Melbourne Storm. And then the Sydney Roosters. They need to be back to their best for them.

And there's no reason they can't be. They've still got a highly rated forward pack. That just needs to get back to doing what it does best. They've still got a couple of top-notch playmakers. Including last year's Dally M Medallist.

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From the outside it would be easy to assume there's stones being kicked all over the place.

Co-captain Josh Hodgson stepped down from his leadership role as he faced being dropped to the bench. With young hooker Tom Starling set to take his place.

While the Sydney media - potentially inspired by banned manager Isaac Moses - have talked of a rift opening up between former co-captain and coach, the word out of the Raiders camp has been that they dealt with it two weeks ago.

Whitehead has been impressed with the way Hodgson's carried himself around HQ since.

Then there was Joe Tapine's wife having a crack at Stuart on social media for his use of the interchange bench. Not giving her husband enough field time. Especially a second stint of just eight minutes.

It would've made for an awkward return to the office on Monday morning. But again Stuart and his players have said they've addressed it and moved on.

A massive effort from Tapine against his former club would refute any claims of stone kicking. Throw in a couple of those stunning solo tries he scored during last year's finals campaign just for good measure.

Stuart challenged his struggling team to prove him wrong. He ruffled a few feathers when he blasted some of his players following the loss to Parramatta. "[There's] individuals there that are happy to put on an NRL jumper and thinking they're an NRL player."

It's not something Stuart does often. If anything, he probably doesn't do it enough. Preferring to take the heat off them. Blaming himself. Or the officials.

So when he does do it. They need to take note. Cop it on the chin. And then prove him wrong. Prove to themselves and the fans what they're capable of. That starts with the Knights. Give them the boot instead.

NRL ROUND NINE

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights at Wagga Wagga, 3pm.

Raiders squad: 1. Caleb Aekins, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Sebastian Kris, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Emre Guler, 11. Corey Harawira-Naera, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Hudson Young, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Joe Tapine. Reserves: 18. Sam Williams, 20. Matt Timoko.

Knights squad: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Brayden Musgrove, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bradman Best, 19. Starford To'a, 6. Kurt Mann, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Connor Watson. Interchange: 14. Sauaso Sue, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Brodie Jones, 17. Pasami Saulo. Reserves: 18. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 22 Gehamat Shibasaki.