We love the mighty Canberra Raiders
Krystal Blackwell views her NRLW finals debut against Wests Tigers as a significant personal milestone, influenced by teammate Maddy Tooth.
If it wasn't for her Canberra teammate, five-eighth Krystal Blackwell wouldn't be playing in a historic clash for the club.
It's why the 23-year-old sees the Raiders' first NRLW finals match against Wests Tigers on Friday night as a full-circle moment.
As a starry-eyed teenager, Blackwell moved to Goulburn, about 90km north of the nation's capital.
Canberra is the unpredictable wildcard in the NRLW finals, posing challenges for all teams.
Of all the teams in the fight for the NRLW premiership, Canberra shapes as the ultimate wildcard.
Ahead of the first finals series in club history, the Raiders are a difficult puzzle to solve; for themselves and opponents alike.
Darrin Borthwick's side enter the finals in fifth place with a 6-5 record that belies a strange tendency that developed over the season: more than any other team in the league, they play to their opponent's level.
The Raiders have a winning record against fellow top six teams, highlighted by a 28-4 win over third-placed Broncos, comfortably the Brisbane team's biggest ever NRLW loss.
Billy Slater critiques the Cronulla Sharks' inconsistent performance, finishing fifth and losing double-chance opportunity despite a favorable draw.
The performances of the Cronulla Sharks this season has yet again found itself under the microscope, with former Dally M Medal Winner, Billy Slater, weighing in on the matter.
Heading into the final five rounds of the regular season, the Sharks had a relatively favourable draw, with a top four spot on the line.
However, losses to the Dragons, Raiders, the Eels and the Storm, separated by a scrap-and-grab win against the Titans, saw the Shire side lose the right to have a double-chance come September, finishing fifth on the ladder.
Over recent seasons, the club has copped criticism for being 'flat-track bullies,' beating easier opponents, but struggling for consistency against contenders, seeing them make finals, then ultimately failing to reach the ultimate goal of winning the premiership.