Memories still burn for gutted Raiders

AS a team, Canberra spoke about last year’s NRL decider for 10 minutes during the preseason before moving on but for the likes of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad the pain wasn’t so easy to leave behind.

With Canberra gearing up for the grand final rematch against the Roosters on Thursday night, Nicoll-Klokstad has revealed how he dwelt on the 14-8 loss for months.

“It stuck with me for ages. For a long time I thought about it,” Nicoll-Klokstad said.

“I’d be going to sleep and I’d be thinking I had a few key moments I could have done a bit better.”

If any Raider could be proud of their efforts in defeat it was Nicoll-Klokstad.

He churned through more run metres (219), had more carries (21) and broke more tackles (eight) than any other player on the field.

He was subbed off with 10 minutes to go because his body was cramping up and starting to shut down.

There was nothing else he could have given and there couldn’t be a Raiders fan alive who wasn’t proud of him.

But Nicoll-Klokstad, who fought his way to that grand final from the depths of NRL purgatory on shear force of will, was consumed by two moments he felt cost his team dearly in its quest for a first title in 25 years.

“There was the (Sam) Verrills try and the dropped ball at the end of the second half. I missed my job there,” NicollKlokstad said.

“It cut me up a little bit. I’m over it now, but you’ll only ever get right over it when you win one.”

The Raiders watched bits of the game in the pre-season, just a few clips here and there.

Each player dealt with the defeat in their own way.

John Bateman couldn’t stop watching the game. “I’ve watched it three times because it annoys me,’’ he said.

“It makes me want to come back and go one step further.”