Finals in their first NRLW season is within reach for Canberra, but it might well take a comprehensive win against Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.
Should Brisbane beat St George Illawarra on Saturday, the Raiders will need a 12-point win to leapfrog the Titans inside the top four and immediately create some history as an expansion side.
Captain Simaima Taufa admitted the magic margin was on the minds of her side but said it could “eat them alive” if it’s all they focus on against a dangerous Gold Coast team.
“We know we need to win by 12 points, but that can only happen if we execute our gameplan,” she said.
“We’ve seen it on multiple occasions the last couple years in NRLW, those points will come if you stick to the gameplan.
“We’ve got two great halves (Zahara Temara and Ash Quinlan) and an amazing fullback (Apii Nicholls) out there that will assist in making sure we get those points, but if we’re chasing points we’ll be putting ourselves in so much pressure.
“If we get top caught up with the 12 points, that might eat us alive and we’re not gonna let that happen.”
Canberra go in without English second-rower Hollie-Mae Dodd after an ACL rupture, Taufa acknowledging winning for the 20-year-old who’s relocated halfway across the world to be part of the side was another huge motivation for her team.
“We didn’t come here just to be a new team, to just go through the motions of being a part of the competition,” she said.
“We relocated for a purpose and we knew what we were capable of, so knowing we’ve got the opportunity in our own hands here at our home to determine our own fate, that’s pretty cool.”
The Raiders will know their specific equation after Brisbane takes on the Dragons, Broncos coach Scott Prince suggesting anything less than full effort might get his side beaten against a side out of finals contention.
“It is never easy. If you go in thinking you are going to win you will certainly be surprised and there will be an ambush happening,” Prince said.
“The Saints are playing at Kogarah in their final game of the year and they will want to put the hand brakes on our season and perform in front of their home crowd and family and friends.
“We put ourselves in this position but right now we are faced with a must win against the Dragons.”
The weekend’s other fixtures will see the Sydney Roosters tune up for finals against North Queensland, while Parramatta will close their campaign against Cronulla.
Newcastle sealed the minor premiership with a 28-8 win against Wests Tigers on Thursday night.
By Alex Mitchell in Canberra
