SATURDAY ANALYSIS

Canberra have become one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams to watch in the NRL after almost doubling their attacking output during the great run that finally took them into the top eight with their big win over Gold Coast.

Even without key playmaker Todd Carney, who has been stood down following his poor off-field behaviour, the Raiders were once again on fire against the Titans at Canberra Stadium, thrashing them 46-4, kicking them out of the eight.

The injury-ravaged Titans have hit the wall and it would be a stunning recovery if they made the finals from here.

Their next game is in Melbourne next Monday.

Canberra have gone from strength to strength during the past seven rounds.

In the first 13 rounds, during which they played 11 games and had two byes, the Raiders scored 191 points at an average of 17.36 points per game. In the past seven rounds, which have brought them five wins and honourable losses against top-four teams Melbourne and Cronulla, they scored 229 points at 32.71.

They have beaten Brisbane, the Bulldogs, St George Illawarra, Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast during that run with an absorbing mix of extreme discipline in their approach through the forwards, fantastic support play down the middle, a determination to spread the ball wide at every opportunity and a very effective kicking game.

If you are going to compress your defence against the Raiders, you are taking a big risk. They are getting around the outside of defences as well as any team - including Melbourne - at the moment, and their finishing, through outside backs including Colin Best, Adrian Purtell and Joel Monaghan, has been superb.

Canberra's defence has improved significantly as well.

Part of the reason is because they have been so dominant in attack and that increases the pressure on the opposition to score, which inevitably brings more mistakes from the trailing team, but they are also developing a great attitude in defence. That is clear from how resolute they are when defending their own line.

The Raiders conceded an average of 23.09 points in their first 11 games and 18.28 in their past seven. No doubt they would like to improve that defensive record even more, but from where they stand now they are a very competitive team. Their threat in attack is so great that opposition teams feel the heat as soon as they fall behind against them.

Halfback Marc Herbert, who came in for Carney, did a good job after a nervous start against Gold Coast. He will only improve, but the key for the Raiders was the fact five-eighth Terry Campese stepped up in Carney's absence. He readily accepted a greater share of the playmaking responsibility against the Titans and did a fine job. His confidence should soar with that performance.

Canberra were coming off a disastrous week. The club had been the subject of negative headlines surrounding its off-field dramas and it was potentially a massive distraction to the rest of the players. But they put the blinkers on and carved up Gold Coast. That is the sign of a very good team.

After the Raiders had won, Penrith had to beat Wests Tigers to stay in the top eight and did it well, winning 24-10 at CUA Stadium. Like Canberra, the Panthers have some terrific young players coming through.

It would be an energy boost for the game to see both make the finals.