'I couldn't sleep': Fogarty determined to repay Stuart before exit

Jamal Fogarty credits Ricky Stuart for the never say die attitude that has propelled the Raiders into second spot but Stuart’s passion for the club caused him a sleepless night after he decided to leave Canberra.

Fogarty, whose extra time penalty goal against Melbourne has set up a top of the table clash with the Bulldogs on Sunday, was worried about how Stuart would react after learning that his most senior playmaker was departing.

“On Monday night I didn't really get to sleep,” Fogarty said. “Obviously, he could take it well, or he could take it the other way.

“I was in bed, and I just kept waking up and going to the toilet thinking about it. I wasn’t too sure what was going to happen, but I wanted to tell him before anyone else because of the respect that I have for him.

“We’ve got a pretty good relationship, and I went into his office on Tuesday morning and told him. He was very accepting of it.

"Our relationship hasn't changed from then and he gave me his backing, which was good."

The 31-year-old said Stuart had told him: "You're an idiot if you don't take it".

Fogarty repaid Stuart for his support by converting a 78th minute Kaeo Weekes try from out wide to send Sunday night’s Magic Round clash against the Storm to golden point and then kicking the penalty goal to give Canberra a 20-18 win.

While the kick was from close range, Fogarty said he felt more pressure than he did converting Weekes' try given that second spot on the NRL ladder behind the Bulldogs was at stake.

“That was probably the most nervous kick I've had all year,” the star halfback said. “It sounds simple, it's just in front and when I put the ball on the tee, I could see the Melbourne boys’ faces shatter, so I just thought ‘don’t’ miss it’.

“I had pretty shaky legs, but I’ve got a good mentor in Jarrod Croker down in Canberra and Andrew Bishop helps me out every single week.

“We actually practice scenarios for stuff like that. I'll be like 'we’re playing Storm this week, give us a penalty goal or give us a time and a score frame' and I'll pick a random spot. We do that every single week, and it paid off.”

The 20-18 win was Canberra’s fifth in a row and the third consecutive game in which they have overcome a large deficit after trailing 16-0 against the Titans, 18-4 against the Dolphins and 14-0 against the Storm.

“I think that probably resembles our coach. He tells us to compete,” Fogarty said. “Everyone in our team's playing really well, but it comes back to that hunger and desire, and ‘Stick’ is massive on that.

“I think what’s really helping my game, and the team this year, is that everything's all about the team.

“As soon as we start thinking about ourselves, we get that first half against the Dolphins, so the more we can just keep focusing on us as a team, keep connecting at training and away from training, the sky is the limit for us this year.”

Despite boasting a mixture of young talent and experienced players such as captain Jospeh Tapine and veteran prop Josh Papali’i, Fogarty said the Raiders had bonded over team dinners.

After winning seven of their opening nine matches, Canberra have made critics take notice and a win against the Bulldogs at GIO Stadium on Sunday would further confirm their premiership credentials.

The last time the Bulldogs and Raiders were in the top two spots on the premiership ladder was Round 11, 1994 and they met in the grand final later that year.

“We wanted to get that connection and I have organised outside backs dinners that we try to do one once a month with our whole squad and Papa, Taps and Tommy Starling organise the forwards,” he said.

“It’s just getting to know each other outside of football and build that connection, then obviously once we take the field we have full confidence in each other.

“Obviously, it awesome to get my future sorted but that is in the background for me now. I’m fully committed here, the boys know that, and the club knows that.

“It was a really hard decision, to be honest. It was something I was tossing and turning about, but in the end it I was an idiot if I didn't accept it, and I told 'Stick' that and he agreed.

“I've got 21 or 22 odd games at the Raiders, and I think we're building something special."