Tom Starling is used to the Canberra Raiders being written off.
But that won't stop the Green Machine after they sent a clear message to the NRL and their critics with a gutsy 28-12 victory over the Newcastle Knights on Thursday night.
The Raiders were further boosted on Friday when star forwards Hudson Young and Emre Guler escaped suspension, while hooker Danny Levi pulled up well after suffering a corked quadriceps.