It wasn't perfect, but it was emphatic. And Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart seems to have built himself a lime green wall.
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The Canberra Raiders produced their second shut out of the season, blanking the Parramatta Eels 19-0 at Canberra Stadium on Sunday night.
It takes the Green Machine to a 4-1 win-loss record - their best start to a season since 2005. It's also their best defensive start to a season since 1990.
It also keeps the Raiders in third on the NRL table.
The Eels' loss could be compounded by a rib injury to star recruit Blake Ferguson, who didn't finish the game and will have scans to determine how long he could be out.
Stuart has his own injury concern, with Joe Tapine set to have scans to determine whether he has a fracture or it's just ligament damage in his ankle.
Raiders halfback Sam Williams again steered the Green Machine around the park expertly and Stuart said he would likely stick with the same halves pairing again next week, while Aidan Sezer waits in the wings.
Stuart revealed five-eighth Jack Wighton (hip) was in doubt going into the game. He also sai selection headaches were one of the toughest parts of his job.
"Sam was good tonight. Jack was in doubt playing this week and with a lot of work with his physio he trained OK and got through it," Stuart said.
"It's lovely to see Sam taking his opportunity and playing the way he is. It's what you've got to do when you get into first grade.
"When you get your opportunity you've got to grab it with both hands and Sammy's doing that at the moment."
Canberra laid siege on the Parramatta try line in the first half like it was an ancient city, dominating possession and territory.
Aside from having 62 per cent of the ball, the Raiders also forced the visitors to make 209 tackles in the opening 40 minutes - almost double their 130.
While the Eels were able to hold firm for most of the first half, the dam eventually broke when Josh Papalii crossed from close range.
They only took an 8-0 lead into half-time despite their dominance, although Eels coach Brad Arthur felt it could've been completely different but for what he labelled a referee mistake.
Raiders winger Nick Cotric missed an intercept on the Eels' own line, but Parramatta fullback Clint Gutherson was denied a length-of-the-field try for a forward pass.
Arthur felt it was a massive point in the game. And the referee got it wrong.
"We defended our line for the first 20 minutes and did a really good job and I thought we scored a try and it was called back for a forward pass, which I didn't think was forward," he said.
"It was a big call in the game for mine. That might have been nice to put the ball down under the post 6-0 after defending our line for 20 minutes."
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad continues to impress in the No.1 jersey for the Raiders and he made a try-saving tackle against Eels second-rower Marata Niukore in the second half.
It was about the time Ferguson left the field with what appeared to be a chest injury.
Then the dam broke again.
Josh Hodgson was again excellent and his grubber set up an Elliott Whitehead try and then Wighton outjumped Mitchell Moses for the Raiders' third.
Williams added a field goal for good measure.
The Raiders host a misfiring Brisbane Broncos at Canberra Stadium next Sunday, but Stuart was wary of the wounded beast and was expecting a much different Broncos to turn up. The Eels host Wests Tigers at the new West Sydney stadium.
CANBERRA RAIDERS 19 (Josh Papalii, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton tries; Jarrod Croker 3 goals; Sam Williams field goal) bt PARRAMATTA EELS 0 at Canberra Stadium. Referees: Henry Perenara, Tim Roby. Crowd: 16,059.