We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Zac Woolford reckons it would have killed him.
But the 26-year-old was content to hang the boots up to “shovel shit”, trading rugby league for early mornings at the Randwick stables working under Peter and Paul Snowden.
It was only a few months ago Woolford was coming off the bench for the Newtown Jets in NSW Cup games at Henson Park. Now he finds himself on the cusp of an NRL elimination final against the best hooker in rugby league.
A second lease on a dream means Woolford will start at...
If Elliott Whitehead ever had the feeling he was being watched, it was probably Hudson Young.
The boom Canberra Raiders second-rower has modelled his game on his co-captain, with the England international reciprocating by taking the Newcastle junior under his wing.
It's helped create one of the best second-rowers in the NRL.
It was the moment Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart knew this trip to Melbourne would be much harder.
Stuart and his Melbourne Storm counterpart Craig Bellamy famously catch up for a beer after every game - their mateship a throwback to when they played together for the Green Machine.
The Raiders have won their past four trips to Melbourne and it wasn't lost on Bellamy, the Melbourne mentor bringing it up over a coldie in the sheds following the latest Canberra win.