Rugby League: Enforcer says fear of failure big spur

SYDNEY - Canberra Raiders enforcer Luke Davico admits the fear of failing to finish off a promising season is spurring on his team-mates to perform in their clash with the Warriors.

The prop, who made his Canberra debut when the club last won a premiership in 1994, said the Raiders' season would be tainted if they capitulated tonight.

"It's a terrible thought - disappointing would not even go close to explaining it if we went out this weekend," Davico said.

"It would leave a real empty feeling in the stomach.

"We've come so far as a side this year and played some really good, tough football, so to let it slip now would be too much to take."

Canberra, who surprisingly led the competition for much of the regular season, lost convincingly to Melbourne last week and faced elimination until Penrith overhauled Brisbane on Sunday.

Davico said the nature of the 30-18 defeat to the Storm left him "sick to the stomach."

He knew they were gone at halftime.

"A few of the guys had their heads down, it was very flat.

"Normally, no matter how far behind we are at halftime we believe we're a chance, but we knew we were already beaten."

Davico sensed confidence was returning in the camp during training this week. "The Warriors are in a purple patch and we're going to be up against it, but we have to prove to one another and our fans that we're a better team than what we dished up against Melbourne."

Davico said Canberra, who were not among the premiership contenders pre-season, had based their campaign on physical and mental strength.

"In the past, people definitely thought we had a soft underbelly and that reflected on the team.

"In the old days when the Raiders won those premierships, they were a glitzy team with players such as Brett Mullins, Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart.

"Now we don't have any superstars, so we're trying to bring an element of toughness into the way we play.

"We're putting our bodies on the line to really damage the opposition ... We've never had that sort of attitude before."

The new-found defensive steel has been attributed to a military-style fitness regime instigated by coach Matthew Elliott and carried out by trainer Carl Jennings.

In a bid to solve their fear of travelling - they won just one game away from Canberra Stadium last year - Jennings and Elliott have successfully created a conditioning programme based on routine.

When they are scheduled to play away, the team are driven for three hours to a new training field on the day of their most demanding session.

They also travel to Sydney only on the day of the game. The plan has paid dividends, with the Raiders boasting the second-best away record behind Penrith.

This year, they have won 10 from 13 away, and nine out of 10 in Sydney.

- NZPA

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