JARROD Croker will lead the Raiders into the GIO Stadium in Canberra on Saturday night, having won their last 10 games straight.
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This figure is almost insignificant compared with the 15 their opponents, the Cronulla Sharks, have managed to string together in the early part of this season.
The Raiders skipper said past form would count for little in this important finals match.
Canberra and Cronulla have met twice this season, with the outcome one win each, both claiming victory in their opponent’s territory.
The Raiders jumped into second spot the ahead of the Sharks in the Telstra Premiership ladder with a 52-10 win over the Wests Tigers, while Cronulla was soundly defeated in Melbourne by the Storm.
This cost the Sharks the minor premiership and slipped them back into third spot.
The Raiders were relieved this week when the NRL judiciary found in favour of Jack Wighton after he pleaded not guilty to a grade two shoulder charge on West Tigers’ Joel Edwards.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart expressed relief at the decision.
"It's been a huge distraction for two days, but it's one of those things we had to get through," Stuart said.
"I'm really happy with the hearing. It was very quick from the panel's decision."
Croker has learned not to take anything for granted and he is expecting a tough contest on Saturday.
"They're tough and they're physical, but even that game you don't want to read too much into that because finals is a completely different game of footy," he said.
"We're not going to look into the past, we're just going to look forward and control what we can."
Croker’s parents, Greg and Pauline, will be at the GIO Stadium on Saturday.
“Jarrod has had an excellent year and it’s great to see how he has matured as a player and team captain,” Mr Croker said
“They are a team who really support each other and do what is asked of them by their coach and play for each other.”
It'll be standing room only at GIO Stadium, and Croker said the home-crowd support would give his side an extra leg.
"We said at the start of the year, when there were 8000 people there [how much they mean to us]," he said.
"The fans that we have are there whether it's freezing cold or like the first game where it was 35 degrees – and another where it was three degrees – so rain, hail or shine they've been there for us.”
