England international and two-time Super League winner John Bateman says Canberra has the hallmarks of a championship-winning NRL team.
Bateman has burst into the NRL with the Raiders this season and last week was dubbed the "buy of the year by rugby league legend Peter Sterling.
The former Wigan back-rower has punched above his weight (98kgs) all season and had led the Canberra pack alongside Queensland star Josh Papalii.
The Raiders (9-5) have been in the top four every week but one, after 14 rounds, and Bateman believes the Green Machine have what it takes to claim a first premiership since 1994.
"I noticed it in pre-season, obviously every team is going to say we're working hard but we were really confident about how we were training and it's gone on to show in how we've played," Bateman said.
"We've had a blip every now and then but we're bouncing back and getting in those grinds and winning games that championship-winning teams win.
"Other teams don't win games like we won last weekend (22-20 against Cronulla).
"They lose them and chuck them away but we're managing to stick in there and hold on and get the result, and that's what championship teams do.
"We're a confident bunch of players, we know what we're about, we know how good we are and what we can go out there and do; and that's what we'll do for the rest of the season."
Injuries have hurt Canberra this year but hooker Josh Hodgson (thumb) will return to face Parramatta in round 15, after the State of Origin bye this weekend.
Bateman hailed his international teammate as a "massive" inclusion for the Raiders' run into finals.
"He's a world-class player, probably one of the best in the world in fact, and coming back he is really going to strengthen our pack," Bateman said.
"In pre-season, I could see the depth in the squad and that's come through because we've had injuries here, there and everywhere, and blokes going off to Origin, but the boys that have stepped in have been fantastic."
