Raiders Set Sights on Breaking Unwanted Finals Pattern
The Canberra Raiders are entering the new NRL season with a clear mission: to prove their 2025 minor premiership was no accident and to break a long-standing statistical trend that has haunted the club. Hooker Tom Starling and versatile forward Simi Sasagi have both emphasised the team's collective hunger and mindset as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
Addressing a Historical Anomaly
Since the introduction of the top-eight finals system in 1999, the Raiders hold an unwanted record. They have missed the finals the season after playing in them more times than any other NRL club, having done so on nine occasions from their 14 finals appearances over the past 27 years. This pattern stands out even more when considering their overall success; the Raiders' 14 finals campaigns rank equal fifth in the league during this period, trailing only powerhouses like the Melbourne Storm, who have made the play-offs 24 times.
By comparison, Newcastle follows with seven instances of missing the eight after finals, while Canterbury and St George Illawarra have six each. Meanwhile, some clubs like the Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans, and the Dolphins have struggled to even reach the finals consistently, highlighting the Raiders' relative success despite this peculiar trend.
Fuel from Within the Green Machine
Tom Starling, 27, pointed to the team's "us against everyone" attitude as a driving force. He acknowledged the disappointment of their straight-sets exit from last year's finals, using it as motivation for the season ahead. "The hunger comes from not winning those two games and not having a preliminary final at home," Starling said. "That's the hunger. The hunger is chasing the grand final. Everyone can say what they want to say, but the hunger comes from within this group."
Starling stressed the importance of maintaining the intensity that propelled them to the minor premiership, ensuring they do not become a yo-yo team that fluctuates in and out of finals contention. With just two weeks remaining before their first pre-season trial against the Storm at Seiffert Oval on February 13, the focus is squarely on building momentum.
Proving It Was No Fluke
Simi Sasagi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the desire to prove that last year's success was legitimate. "Many teams want to write us off, but we have the same mindset of it wasn't a fluke last year, we want to go after it," Sasagi stated. His versatility was a key asset in 2025, allowing him to cover multiple positions including second-row, middle forward, centres, and five-eighth, and he even expressed willingness to play fullback if needed.
Sasagi finds himself in a competitive battle for a spot in the starting lineup, with five NRL-level second-rowers at the club: Hudson Young, Matty Nicholson, Zac Hosking, Noah Martin, and himself. He acknowledged that Young and Nicholson are likely favourites for the starting roles come round one against Manly, citing their strong training form and Young's State of Origin selection as factors.
As the Raiders prepare for the new season, the combination of historical motivation and internal drive positions them as a team determined to rewrite their narrative and secure back-to-back finals appearances for the first time in years.
