Raiders of the final spot: Can Canberra still make finals?

With the Raiders making a late run for the finals, Denan Kemp believes the side is capable of sneaking into the top eight.

It’s been a tough season for Canberra after the unexpected high of last year’s home and away season, having spent the year behind the eight-ball, losing four of their first five matches for the season.

But their form in recent times has given fans hope for their season being extended beyond Round 27.

On Saturday afternoon, the Raiders dominated the hapless Wests Tigers 56-10 in the nation’s capital, marking their biggest win of the season.

That victory capped off the Green Machine’s fourth straight win as they move closer to the top eight, having leapfrogged the Storm to 11th with a bye in hand.

While they face a tough run in the final weeks of the season with several finals’ contenders in their way, Kemp believes the reigning minor premiers could push for the last spot should their young spine continue to shine.

“(I’ve) loved them,” he explained on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“(I’ve) loved them so much so that I've got them battling Souths for that 8th position.

“I really like what I'm seeing.

“As a Raiders fan, it is disappointing when you consider how far you came last year and you won a minor premiership.

“But when you look at a guy like Owen Pattie that's 20 years old, Kaeo Weekes, 24 years old, (Ethan) Sanders, he's starting to hit his straps because the forward pack's starting to win the battle. He's 22 years old.

“Ethan Strange, 21 years old. There is so much excitement for me around the Raiders.

“They've just got to make sure they keep developing good forwards to go forward.

“The only thing I think they need to worry about is there's been a lot of positive chat about them now (and) not to fall in love with it going, ‘Oh, we're the man now, we're the best team in the comp, we're in form’ (and) all that kind of stuff.”

The Raiders are off to Mudgee where they’ll take on the ladder-leading Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

Following that blockbuster clash, Canberra then plays Newcastle, Cronulla, Brisbane and North Queensland with a bye scheduled for Round 26.