THERE are some straightforward ways to achieve rugby league success and most of them revolve around the leadership of talented players, avoiding injuries, a committed coach and a harmonious club, where everyone shares a common vision for the future and sings from the same club song sheet.

And then there's the Canberra Raiders' way.

Coach Neil Henry is heading out the door, the star halfback was sacked because he couldn't match his vision on the field with a similar capacity for thinking clearly about his life off it, and the injury bench has had to be extended to cope with the number of busted crocks, but the Green Machine keeps rolling on toward a finals berth.

To top it off, the star of the show is a local boy whom the Raiders were desperate to punt a few months ago. Luckily for Terry Campese - and Canberra - when Trent Barrett told his agent he wanted to get as far away from the north of England as he could, a winter in the nation's capital wasn't exactly what he had in mind.

But the fact the Raiders wanted Barrett wouldn't do a lot for anyone's confidence, especially not - and let's get this out of the way now - the nephew of the great Wallaby winger David, who lives on footballing self-belief just as his more famous uncle did.

While the uncle looks safe to remain more famous for some time yet, Terry Campese's been playing well enough these last two months to bury the family connection. He's truly, fully, finally his own man.

"It's just confidence," Raiders centre Joel Monaghan said. "I think he's got everything sorted out in his life and he hasn't played better. At the start of the year there was a few things on his mind and maybe that was affecting him. He's consistent now and I think he's the form five-eighth in the comp."

Most of what was on Campese's mind was Barrett. And still feeling unwanted four years after he had his debut, years in which the yo-yo effect of promotion and relegation sapped at his confidence.

"I was in for a few weeks and then back in reserve grade but this year the coaching staff made a big effort to fix up a few parts of my game and consistency was a big thing and I think it's starting to pay off," he said.

Yesterday, Campese had a hand in four tries as the Raiders ran Souths senseless. The five-eighth put Monaghan clear with a pass of similar dimensions to a certain bridge in the harbour city.

But, when that didn't get the team across the line, Campese took the ball at first receiver and put Adrian Purtell over to give Canberra a lead in the second half.

Then Campese showed he can find his way through traffic, with his sense of direction putting Alan Tongue in the clear before fullback David Milne scored.

Marc Herbert's season ended after only 25 minutes yesterday, leaving the Raiders looking very skinny at halfback. But a little more responsibility won't bother Campese who steered the side with a degree of comfort.

"There's not much difference these days between six and seven; you just help each other out. Whoever comes in will help me out a bit."