In attack they're the bad and mean Green Machine, but Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has put the onus on his players to take individual responsibility for fixing their defence.
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Stuart used the bye week before last week's shattering 21-20 home defeat to North Queensland to "start all over again in defence".
Despite the loss that emphasis bore fruit against the Cowboys, who need a last-second Johnathan Thurston field goal to win despite forcing the Raiders to make over 120 more tackles.
Stuart insisted he hasn't noticed any letdown from his young team before Saturday's crucial clash with New Zealand in Auckland after their tough effort came to nought.
Canberra is in 10th spot with a 6-8 record before the Warriors clash, which pits two of the NRL's most explosive attacking teams against each other.
The Raiders have scored more points than any other team this year, but their defence is third-last behind Gold Coast and Parramatta.
A win is vital before their second bye next week, and Stuart has challenged the squad to put as much pride in stopping points as scoring them.
"We had a good look at our season in the bye and it was very important we started all over again defensively [against Cowboys]," Stuart said.
"It doesn't always come back to your [defensive] structures of strategies, it comes back to individuals. We'll take some responsibility and ownership of our own performance.
"We've set some benchmarks and challenges for everybody in regards to their statistics individually. I think 95 per cent of our benchmarks in defence were achieved [against Cowboys].
"We need to do that consistently if we are to be a contender in the back end of the season."
The 10th-placed Raiders are frustrated effort is not translating into premiership points, with six of their eight losses by 12 points or less.
They've focused heavily on shutting down Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson after he tore the Titans apart in a vintage display on the Gold Coast last week
"Those close ones will turn our way if we stay in the fight, it always does for the good teams who keep themselves in the battle," he said.
"The type of character and attitude the players possess will get us one of those close wins very soon.
"We're playing one of the better attacking teams in the competition.They're explosive, they're big, we've got a real game on our hands.
"They're a physical outfit and we need to match it."
Newcastle mid-season signing Joey Leilua travelled with the team as 18th man, and the centre is therefore a chance to make his club debut.
"Jordan [Rapana] and Eddy Lee have been great and Sisa [Waqa] too, there's pressure on everybody to keep their spots," Stuart said.
"That's what we're trying to build in the club.
"The players have to make a decision. Do they want to be in a competitive, successful football club, or just anywhere where they can play first grade?"
SATURDAY
NRL round 16: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Auckland, 3pm (AEST).
TV: Live on Fox Sports 1.
