This was published 8 years ago
Defence focus pay-off as Raiders end perception of soft underbelly: Blake Austin
By Jon Tuxworth
Canberra Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin has praised defence coach Dean Pay for his patience in putting the "bad and mean" back into the Green Machine.
As one of many Raiders players yet to taste finals, he believes excelling in big game intensity in Monday's 22-8 home win over Melbourne will be invaluable.
Long criticised for a soft underbelly in defence, statistics show the green wall which suffocated Melbourne on Monday night isn't a flash in the pan.
The old adage says defence wins big games and if the finals began today, the third-placed Raiders would be best placed to lift the NRL trophy.
Green wall: Tohu Harris takes on the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.Credit: Brett Hemmings
They have conceded just four tries in their last three games, including just three in back-to-back wins over top two sides Cronulla and Melbourne.
Monday's 22-8 win over Storm has Canberra on the cusp of sealing a top-four berth for the first time since 2003.
They have scored the most points in the competition this year but Austin said they're relishing defending their try-line.
"It's something we've worked really hard on," Austin said.
"Deano's had some tough days here at the club and for him to finally be getting success in his area [defence] is full credit to him for sticking at it.
"The boys are just buying in and we're really enjoying turning teams away.
"It was pretty similar last week [at Cronulla], we had 46 per cent possession and kept them to two tries.
"We're working hard and we're not finished yet, it's important we don't get carried away and build momentum leading into the finals."
Canberra has conceded just 26 points in the last three games of their seven-match winning streak.
It's the best record of any team in the top eight in that period, remarkable given they were the second-worst defensive side in the NRL just two years ago.
Melbourne were tackled a whopping 49 times in Canberra's 20-metre zone but even the likes of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk couldn't find an answer.
"It was [a great defensive display against Melbourne] but I don't think it's much better than it's been, that's been building for the last month," Austin said.
"To do that against Melbourne is a big effort, they throw a lot at you and it's something we'll take a lot from."
The Raiders are the talk of the NRL and Storm coach Craig Bellamy helped fuel the hype after the game by labelling them the "team on the up", and admitting his side and other contenders had plateaued.
However Canberra's young squad has done a fine job on keeping a lid on things internally and don't expect intend for that to change.
Only five Raiders who took the field against Storm have played in finals in the past.
"It's hard, we're winning games and when you're winning people are going to write about you," Austin said.
"It [hype] is not going to come from us, not many of us have played finals and we're all keep to experience that and see what it's all about.
"We're not going to know what it's like until we're there, myself at least anyway."
POINTS CONCEDED ROUND 21-23
Canberra: 26 (Average 8.66)
Penrith: 36 (12)
Canterbury: 40 (13.33)
Melbourne Storm: 44 (14.66)
Brisbane: 56 (18.66)
Gold Coast: 60 (20)
North Qld: 64 (21.33)
Cronulla: 80 (26.66)