It was only a matter of time before Canberra's English contingent started to affect how the team played.
In the lead-up to a pair of crucial tries in the 26-22 win over Brisbane, fans could be forgiven for thinking they were watching football of a different code.
John Bateman showed incredible skill to tap a ball on with his foot in the 29th minute, giving Joey Leilua the time and space to power his way past three defenders for the first of his two four-pointers for the day.
Then again the round-ball game made an appearance in the 66th minute when Jack Wighton managed to "head" the ball through the defensive line, allowing Ryan Sutton to score his first Telstra Premiership try.
"I think that might be a bit of the football that we're doing before training," Josh Hodgson joked about the two tries.
"Sometimes when you're playing hard and you out in the effort, the bounce of the ball goes your way so that's the way things are going at the moment."
Wighton sets up Sutton with Falcon
There is more than the bounce of the ball going the way of the Green Machine after winning five of their first six and coming three for-and-against points short of claiming top spot on the ladder.
The Raiders entered round six with the best defence in the NRL and while a desperate Broncos side scored 22 points at GIO Stadium, it was the resolve Canberra showed after they gave up the lead that most impressed Hodgson.
"We spoke about not panicking and getting back into the grind," he said.
"We've been doing a lot of work at training about those kinds of scenarios and because we've got a different make-up of the squad than we’ve had in previous years in those tight moments it's helping us.
"It's got it's pros and cons not having too many big blokes.
"Sometimes when you're in your own end and you need that big bloke to scatter the line and get you going forward, we have some guys who are putting their hand up to try and do that.
"But on the other side of the coin when we're doing it tough and under the pump we've got great leg speed and the guys are really working hard for each other."
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart suggested post-match the squad would be on lighter duties this week, saying he is aware of burning players out too early in the season.
Helping add to forward depth is JJ Collins who made 14 tackles in 17 minutes in his club debut at NRL level.
Stuart praises 'more mature' Raiders squad
"There's still five or six blokes that aren't in the side that easily could be and we're going to need them throughout the year when we have injuries and giving guys a break when they need it, it's going to be a squad effort," Hodgson said.
In order to keep their red-hot start to the year going, Hodgson said the Raiders couldn't afford to take Manly lightly on Sunday when they travel to Lottoland in round seven.
"They're a real dogged side, watching them the last two weeks I think they're a really gutsy side and they're working hard for each other," he said.
"I think everybody has written them off in the build-up to the season and when it goes like that and your backs against the wall you come out swinging and that's what it looks like they're trying to do."
