Canberra's "generation next" has sent a message to coach Ricky Stuart that they are ready for the rigours of first grade after downing Penrith in the NRL's pre-season challenge.
Led by a two-try performance from crafty hooker Owen Pattie, a largely second-string Canberra outfit claimed an 22-16 trial win over the Panthers at Shark Park on Saturday.
Penrith didn't pick a single one of their grand final heroes, but there was still plenty of intrigue over the side coach Ivan Cleary named.
Former Wests Tigers back-rower Isaiah Papali'i was solid on the left edge in his first outing for the Panthers, while Casey McLean - the leading contender to replace Sunia Turuva on the wing - churned through 115m.
With Nathan Cleary and Parramatta recruit Blaize Talagi both coming off summer surgeries heading into their Las Vegas season opener against Cronulla on March 2, neither Jack Cole nor Brad Schneider made a compelling case to become the first-drop back-up.
On the opposing side, Ethan Sanders showed glimpses why the Eels were so gutted to see him follow Talagi out the door at the end of last season.
Halfback Sanders had a hand in the Raiders' opening try when he ran deep into the line to set up Simi Sasagi for a short-range finish.
Penrith hit back through David Fale, but Pattie's introduction from the bench turned the game back in Canberra's favour.
Since Josh Hodgson's exit from the Green Machine in 2021, Stuart has chopped and changed his first-choice No.9.
Tom Starling, Danny Levi and the since-departed Zac Woolford have all shared hooking duties, but Pattie's performance would suggest he might not be far off from staking his own claim.
Pattie narrowly missed out on a first-half 40/20, was opportunistic out of dummy-half, and snuck in for two tries after the break.
Prop Noah Martin also charged over for the Raiders, before Sam Lane and Zack Lamont hit back for the Panthers late on.
Other highlights for the Raiders, who host Cronulla on Thursday night in their final trial, included former Warrington forward Matty Nicholson sitting Papali'i down with the hit of the night in his first game since arriving from England.
Promising fullback Chevy Stewart looked a handful, and Albert Hopoate, who will miss the Raiders' Vegas trip to face the Warriors because of the impending birth of his child, clocked up 112m from centre.
