Are Canberra The Real Deal?

[Big Pete]

Back to back wins over Cronulla and Melbourne has Canberra poised to have their best season since 1995.

A couple of questions.

What is behind their success?

And do you think they will go all the way?

 

[Alec]

I called it at the start of the season that they have a gun team. Austin and Sezer are quality and suit each other really well. Hodgson is arguably the 2nd best hooker. Jack Wighton is a very talented player, even if he does struggle at fullback sometimes. Their backs are great, with Rapana and BJ as standouts. Forward pack is quality too, with Paulo probably being the mid-year buy of the season, Papalii rediscovering his earlier form, Whitehead being a quality signing and younger guys like Tapine and Bateman playing very well for younger players.

I just question their defence and Ricky Stuart as a coach.

 

[Financeguy]

They are a team that looks like have really good comradery and are putting in for each other. They are also very physical and can match up against any side if it comes to a bash fest. I think they are still vunerable if the game is free flowing and the skills of the halves come into the game, but every team in the top 8 has weaknesses to exploit.

Their defence tonight was premiership quality, such a tight unit.

Teams can try and bash and barge over the raiders at their peril.

Credit to Stuart, he has developed a very strong team, and they are entertaining to watch.

 

[bb_gun]

They are certainly looking promising at this stage of the season but my god they are all such an unlikeable bunch. From Ricky Stuart all the way down to Wighton (with the exception of Papalii of course) I just want to punch them all in the face.

Except for BJ and Boyd, those faces are already scrapped.

 

[Super Freak]

It was a good win..

But, I still have question marks over the Raiders.

I think the signs were there for a few weeks that Melbourne were going to lose a game.

They got out of jail against the Knights.

The Roosters made a heap of costly errors and failed to take advantage of their opportunities.

They got lucky against the Rabbitohs and with the help of the ref not applying the obstruction rule.

It was the same with the Sharks.

I think Raiders played them at the perfect time, but I think they will crumble in the finals.

But then again, I said the same thing about the Cowboys last year.

I think the reason behind their success is Stuart. Say what you want about him, but he has built a good culture there and recruited well. The players are buying into it.

 

[Morkel]

Have to concede, they're going better than I gave them credit for.

I should probably mention that the last team to beat them was..... us.

 

[Sproj]

Yes they are the real deal but can't see them beating other sides of the other sides step up. They have a real Tigers 05 feel about them, just peaking at the right time while everyone else is falling over. They are favourites by default at present and rightly so.

 

[Harry Sack]

Contenders for sure

 

[Alec]

I can't help but get the feeling there will be a Bradbury type of premiership winner this year.

 

[Super Freak]

I can't help but get the feeling there will be a Bradbury type of premiership winner this year.

Well Canberra have scored a try that was classed as the Bradbury of tries...

 

[Broncoman]

They are a really fun team to watch in attack but they really showed up in defense tonight and showed they are capable of defense as well. Melbourne could've easily scored more than 8 points but the edge of Papalli really hit them hard. They've done a really good job this year but still have some flaws that could be caught out and it will be interesting to see how Austin and Sezer go in the finals.

You got to give the old sticky some credit. He made some big calls at the club and has brought on a fresh batch of players with some great recruitment and he has really built a good team around them. Austin, Whitehead, Sezer and Hodgson have all flourished in the capital and some other guys like Rapana, Solia, Brenko Lee (who I think has a good future ahead of him) and Boyd have all played very well.

@Morkel, 7 straight wins and now they've beaten the top 2 teams in the competition. Going to give your mate some credit at last :)

 

[Dash]

Have to concede, they're going better than I gave them credit for.

I should probably mention that the last team to beat them was..... us.

And we did it comfortably while being woefully out of form.

 

[Morkel]

They are a really fun team to watch in attack but they really showed up in defense tonight and showed they are capable of defense as well. Melbourne could've easily scored more than 8 points but the edge of Papalli really hit them hard. They've done a really good job this year but still have some flaws that could be caught out and it will be interesting to see how Austin and Sezer go in the finals.

You got to give the old sticky some credit. He made some big calls at the club and has brought on a fresh batch of players with some great recruitment and he has really built a good team around them. Austin, Whitehead, Sezer and Hodgson have all flourished in the capital and some other guys like Rapana, Solia, Brenko Lee (who I think has a good future ahead of him) and Boyd have all played very well.

@Morkel, 7 straight wins and now they've beaten the top 2 teams in the competition. Going to give your mate some credit at last :)

I just... can't.

 

[Socnorb]

Peaks and troughs people.

 

[Battler]

I see them turning in a horror performance in the semi, hopefully against us.

 

[mrslong]

yeah, nah

 

[Rally Towel]

They're certainly shaping up as the surprise packet this year. Tightened up their defence lately to match their offensive fire-power.

Hodgson has been massive for them and their pack is very solid. That's the cornerstone of their current success.

Back line is quite dynamic but not entirely reliable. When they're on they're electric but they are perfectly capable of some shocking decision making in both attack and defence.

Don't really rate either half, think their points have come off the back if Hodgson and tackle busting ability across the back 5.

However you slice it, they'll never overcome their disadvantage in TPA's, and media/referee bias. Life is just so unfair.

 

[Super Freak]

I heard Smith was accusing Canberra of giving away intentional penalties...

What a fucking hypocrite.