Jarrod Croker says the Raiders won't let the pain of grand final defeat linger once they start preparations for 2020.
The Canberra co-captain is still devastated by the 14-8 loss to the Roosters on October 6 at ANZ Stadium that denied his club a first premiership in 25 years.
The Raiders failed to back up the previous time they finished in the top four - sliding from second in 2016 to 10th the next year - but Croker has faith the Green Machine will be contenders again.
"It's going to take a lot of hard work. Sides are probably working us out a little bit, how we play," Croker told NRL.com while promoting the NRL Nines in Perth.
"We have to work hard and focus on what we do and try to do it a little bit better. Because at the end of the day it wasn't good enough this year - it got us to the grand final but it didn't get us a win.
NRL Nines 2020 is headed to Perth
"Come pre-season training, especially the boys who played, we'll have that fire in the belly and the drive to go that extra bit further. I can't see [sustaining success] being a problem."
Integral to Canberra's ambitions of redemption on the big stage will be incoming halfback George Williams, a two-time Super League title winner with Wigan.
Croker hasn't met Williams but believes the 24-year-old will handle the move.
One of the best weeks of my life but also one of the most disappointing nights I've had
Jarrod Croker on reaching the 2019 grand final
"I've heard nothing but good things about George. I'll probably get the chance to watch him play for Great Britain in the next couple of weeks," Croker said.
"I don't watch a lot of footy over here let alone Super League, to be honest. But I hadn't watched much of Hodgo [Josh Hodgson] or Elliott [Whitehead] or Johnny Bateman and they came over and surprised me.
"I'm hoping George does the same thing."
On a personal note, Croker hasn't yet reflected on the season that was amid the sheer disappointment but said it had been "special".
However, he'll stop at nothing to earn a ring in the coming years.
"[A premiership] is probably my No.1 priority now. Get there and win a grand final," Croker said.
"Being in the grand final this year ... was one of the best weeks of my life but also one of the [most] disappointing nights I've had.
"I've only just turned 29 about a month ago so I've still got enough time I think. I feel good, the body's really good. I've still got a fair few years left in me."
Croker was in Perth on Tuesday for the launch of the revamped NRL Nines to be held in February.
A $1 million prize is on the line for any club that wins the Nines and the Telstra premiership in the same year - an offer Croker said should encourage teams to field their biggest stars.
"I think it's a great idea, obviously that extra incentive there will make clubs send over their best Nines players," Croker said.
"We've seen what blokes can do with 13-on-13. Imagine a full-strength squad of Nines, how exciting it's going to be."
