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Honesty key for Raiders ahead of crunch clash
Sebastian Tan, AAP •  June 26th, 2026 3:59 pm
Matt Timoko hasn't held back in reviewing Canberra's recent poor performances | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Centre Matt Timoko concedes Canberra need to have a long, hard look at themselves as their season of promise dramatically derails into one to forget.
The Raiders strolled into this year high on confidence, having claimed the NRL's minor premiership for the first time since 1990 last campaign.
But now they sit on the brink of becoming the first team in a decade to win the regular season and miss out on finals the next year, sitting a lowly 16th on the ladder and on a three-game losing streak.
A 42-20 capitulation to Melbourne last Sunday was another blow to Canberra's hopes and they now must win about eight of their last nine games to have a chance of making the top eight.
"It's up to us to take accountability as a whole, everyone from one to 17, we've all got a role to play in this team," Timoko told reporters on Friday.
"We (just need to be) honest with ourselves and not be afraid to call other people out.
"Sometimes we get into a little bit of a habit where we'll overlook it (errors and discipline) and think it'll be better next week, but it hasn't been getting better."
The Storm inflicted a 10th loss in 15 games this season on the Green Machine | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Canberra have also never sat so low on the ladder this late into the season, but they do have a glimmer of hope ahead of a crunch clash against cellar dwellars St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Simi Sasagi, one of the Raiders' stars in the early parts of the campaign before sustaining a shoulder injury, is set to return in the centres.
It's hoped the 25-year-old is the first of many on the comeback trail, with second-rowers Noah Martin (ankle) and Matty Nicholson (shoulder), and prop Josh Papali'i (calf) expected to come back after their bye next round.
"He (Sasagi) has been killing it this year and the team is missing that kind of X factor on the edge," Timoko said.
"It feels like he hasn't really lost his stride since he's been out. So, I'm really excited to see him back."
Emerging forward Joe Roddy meantime has re-signed with Canberra until the end of the 2030 season, despite playing just four top-flight games and missing a large chunk of this year with a hand injury.
"It's very exciting. Ever since I moved to Canberra, I've loved Canberra itself and the club even more," Roddy said.
"I haven't had a real good run of injuries this year, but hopefully I can get a few more games in the back end of the season and next year."
