They have moved to within a game of the top eight but Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has revealed the word "finals" is taboo in their dressing sheds after Sunday's crucial 34-24 win at Penrith.

And he declared he's on his way to helping the vastly improved Raiders "win back respect" after two seasons in the NRL doldrums.

This means the Raiders are a legitimate chance to secure their first finals berth since 2012, with a favourable draw to come after next week's tough test against North Queensland in Townsville.

Stuart said the team had pledged not to discuss the future any further than a week on as they look to rebuild with one of the NRL's youngest rosters.

"It's easy to say now after a win but we're not a team yet who can be worried about the eight, or where we're going," Stuart said.

"We made that pact a month ago. Whatever happens now through to the end of the season is going to be great for the squad's future, whether we make the eight or we don't.

"We're not good enough to be worried about where we're going to be in four or five weeks' time."

Anointed wooden spoon fancies by many before the season started, the Raiders have put egg on a lot of faces by winning more than expected based on an attacking brand of football.

Simply being in realistic contention for finals after 20 rounds has exceeded most expectations.

It's given the Raiders faithful something to hang their hat on after two horror years on the park, the sackings of star players Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan, and also former coach David Furner.

Stuart said he deliberately refrained from highlighting when the Raiders will reach their peak.

"The core of the group is 22 or 23 years old and if I say [we'll get there] in three or four years, I'm just trying to buy myself time," Stuart said.

"It's not what I'm doing, so I don't make those statements.

"When you look at teams who have been successful over the years, they have a good group of representative players and the main core is 25 or 26 years old.

"I said the day I got here I wanted to get the respect back for this club. I think we're slowly doing that."

Raiders captain Jarrod Croker praised the side's resilience for finally winning an arm wrestle after losing a host of close games this year.

"Both sides were pretty desperate today, both on the same competition points," Croker said.

Both sides were playing ad lib footy early but once the game settled down we got our kick chase on and built the win from there."