Ben Ikin was one of a number of rugby league experts who backed the Green Machine to start purring over the second half of the season to make the top eight.

Steve Roach, Brent Tate and Wendell Sailor all agreed with Ikin - the Raiders were too good a side not to play finals in 2017, as they ran their eye over Canberra's first half of the campaign.

They sit in 10th on the ladder and have had back-to-back losses going into this weekend's bye, with last weekend's defeat against Penrith especially tough - giving up two tries in the last two minutes to lose by four.

"You know they can and so do I," Ikin said when asked if Canberra could still make the finals.

"The finish to the game [against Penrith] was dramatic, but their situation at the moment is certainly not dire.

"I think we're just waiting a bit longer for their best footy to arrive than we thought we'd have to wait.

"At some point it's all going to click, the penny's going to drop and they'll be able to play their best footy for longer periods. At the moment it just comes in spurts."

Tate felt that Panthers loss could be a "trigger" to kick start their season.

They're just two points behind eighth-placed Penrith and have four straight home games when they return from the bye, starting with Brisbane next Saturday.

Tyrone Peachey, of the Panthers, celebrates with teammates Waqa Blake and Nathan Cleary after their last-minute win over the Raiders in Bathurst. Photo: Getty Images

"Sometimes it does take a little loss like that to all of a sudden, a little trigger that can kick start your year," Tate said.

"That could be that trigger just losing a match in the fashion they did against Penrith."

Getting defensive

While the Raiders boast the most potent attack in the NRL, leading the competition for points and tries, their defence was only the 10th best.

They've let in more points than any of the top-eight sides.

All our experts agreed there was nothing wrong with the Green Machine's attack, which sometimes had the natural side effect of placing less importance on defence.

The Raiders' defence hasn't been effective enough this season. Photo: Getty Images

"When you've got a side that can attack and score points like they can, you tend not to concentrate on the other side of the game as much as you should," Roach said.

With Sailor adding: "Defence is an attitude. I know they haven't always been good defensively - if you score 16 they'll score 20 or 22.

"I know [coach Ricky Stuart]'s big on his defence ... they just seem that team they'd rather attack than worry about their defence."

Doing it by halves

The Raiders have struggled with their fluency at times this season, with halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin coming under some criticism for the way they've finished off sets.

It was highlighted in their golden-point loss to Manly at Brookvale, when the Sea Eagles forced the Raiders into six goal-line dropouts, while not having to do any themselves.

Both Sezer and Austin had an injury interrupted 2016, but managed to string a series of games together going into the finals and had their first full pre-season together going into this campaign.

Aidan Sezer needs to be more involved, says Ben Ikin. Photo: Rohan Thomson

Ikin felt Sezer needed to take more control of running the side.

"Hot and cold ... both Sezer and Austin can be better than they've been. They've both had their issues, less Blake, probably more Aidan," he said.

"I think he needs to step up and take more ownership of being the steady hand, really make some strong decisions about when and where they play footy."

Sailor felt with their big forward pack and powerful outside backs, getting more repeat sets would make them unstoppable.

They've had 17 so far this season - 13 less than Manly, who lead the competition in that area.

"Their halves just haven't taken control of the game when they should've - whether it's through repeat sets," Sailor said.

"If you've got a side like the Raiders and you get repeat sets - they're not going to hold you through the middle or on those edges or outside backs."

Rapana love

It's official. Everyone loves Raiders winger Jordan Rapana. It's not surprising, given the way he plays the game.

He's the leading try scorer in the NRL with 14, had the most line-breaks (20) and tackle busts (101), and was second in running metres (2158m).

While he's a brilliant finisher, he also rolls his sleeves up and works as an extra forward the way he trucks the ball out of the Raiders' half.

The Kiwi international has plenty of admirers for the way his game's continued to improve.

"I've just marvelled at Rapana - if he wants to do something special he'll do it. The 80-metre try against Manly, he had no right to score that," Sailor said.

"It's him and daylight. I sit there and I marvel ... no one can hold him through the middle and you know it's coming."

Going forwards?

They've got the biggest pack in the competition, bolstered by the addition of Dave Taylor during the pre-season.

The "Coal Train" has struggled to get on the park, with a persistent calf injury and a case of chickenpox restricting him to just two games for the Green Machine.

Junior Paulo's been the Raiders' best front-rower this season, while second-rower Josh Papalii's also starred.

Joe Tapine has impressed in 2017. Photo: Getty Images

Roach also had a rap for young forward Joe Tapine.

"I rate them [the Raiders pack] highly. I'm a great fan of Tapine. He's getting more game time now, I think you'll see more and more of him as the season goes on," he said.

"They've been unlucky with [Shannon Boyd] and his knee injury, but I rate their pack. I think they're one of the toughest packs in the comp and I like the way they play."

THE RUN HOME

June 24: Raiders v Broncos at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

July 1: Raiders v Cowboys at Canberra Stadium, 7.30pm.

Round 18: Raiders bye.

July 14: Raiders v Dragons at Canberra Stadium, 7.50pm.

July 22: Raiders v Storm at Canberra Stadium, 5.30pm.

Round 21: Rabbitohs v Raiders at ANZ Stadium.

Round 22: Sharks v Raiders at Shark Park.

Round 23: Warriors v Raiders at Auckland.

Round 24: Raiders v Panthers at Canberra Stadium.

Round 25: Raiders v Knights at Canberra Stadium.

Round 26: Storm v Raiders at Melbourne.

RESULTS

Cowboys 20 bt Raiders 16

Sharks 42 bt Raiders 16

Raiders 46 bt Tigers 6

Broncos 13 bt Raiders 12

Raiders 30 bt Eels 18

Raiders 42 bt Titans 16

Raiders 20 bt Warriors 8

Sea Eagles 20 bt Raiders 18

Bulldogs 16 bt Raiders 10

Knights 34 bt Raiders 20

Raiders 22 bt Eels 16

Raiders 24 bt Roosters 16

Sea Eagles 21 bt Raiders 20

Panthers 24 bt Raiders 20