True Blue Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach believes the Canberra Raiders need to change their mentality if they want to be a premiership force again in 2020 after a slow start to the revamped NRL season.
The Raiders enjoyed a stunning 2019 campaign, which saw them reach their first Grand Final since 1994, and they were widely tipped to go one better in 2020 after losing last year’s decider to the Sydney Roosters.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said they haven’t lived up to those expectations yet but despite their slow start they are still within striking distance in seventh spot after seven rounds.
Stuart was vocal at the start of the new campaign about other teams stepping up to the plate when they faced the Grand Finalists, but Roach believes they need to change their mentality from the ‘hunted to the hunters’.
“I think everyone expected that (they would be a premiership force) and I think the problem with the Raiders at the moment is that they’ve become the hunted because of what they did last year in the Grand Final,” Roach told Behind Blue Eyes.
“I know they didn’t win the Grand Final at the end of the day but from the season they had (last year) and knowing how hard it is to play against them, I think everyone is getting up to play the Raiders.
“So I think they have to overcome that sort of problem.”The
The Raiders have recorded just two wins since the competition restarted in May, one of which was against Melbourne Storm in Round Three which sent an ominous warning to competition about their premiership credentials.
However, three losses in their past four games now has some pundits doubting their premiership aspirations, even though they hold a 4-3 record for 2020.
Fellow True Blue and Sea Eagles legend Steve Menzies believes it is too early to be concerned and says they are just one game away from recapturing better form.
“They’re not (coming together like they did last year) but I’m not concerned at this stage,” Menzies said
“They still have got a great squad across the board and they’re still a young team.
“The great teams are only a 10-minute momentum shift away from playing great football
“They’re out of sync and out of rhythm … but when everything is going well those other little subtle things all add up to momentum and just getting rythym of attack.
“If it’s happening in three or four weeks then I’m concerned. I just think they are too much of a quality side to write them off just yet.”