The siege mentality so effectively utilised by Canberra sports teams on the national stage since the 1970s was odds-on to be part of the build-up ahead of the Raiders-Knights elimination final on Sunday.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said as much in the wake of the 24-6 loss to the Sharks, which came on the back of the 29-18 defeat at the hands of the Broncos.
After two losses in a row heading into this weekend's finals, Stuart declared, "I don't know if anyone knows we are in the finals. We weren't meant to be".
This is an indication, of sorts, that he was ready to embrace an 'us against them' approach.