'We weren't good enough': Ricky Stuart wants Raiders to rise in NRL

"The only motivation we need is that we weren't good enough last year," Stuart said.

"We have to work harder, we have to improve to achieve what every other club wants, and that's to win a grand final.

"We weren't good enough ... [but] I believe with the attitude and work ethic we have, we're on the right foot going forward."

Many Raiders fans will still be basking in the grand final glow of last year when the Green Machine starts its 2020 campaign against the Gold Coast Titans.

It will be just the fifth time in 20 years the Raiders have played at home in round one, giving them a perfect chance to build on what they created last year.

The Raiders haven't made the finals in back to back years since 2003-04 and they will be determined pick up where they left off on and off the field in 2019.

More than 25,000 fans packed into Canberra Stadium five months ago to watch the Raiders secure their first grand final berth in 25 years.

The heartbreak of what happened next is still raw, particularly given the controversial nature of refereeing decisions.

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But Stuart says a new year means starting from scratch and realising nothing is owed to the Raiders when they begin a redemption mission.

"I wanted to use this pre-season as an experience for these guys because we want to keep making the top four," Stuart said.

"We want to keep making grand finals, we want to be a team that contends at the back end of a season. It's been a bit of trial and error, but we've got a lot of stability in the squad.

"There's a good feeling in the air. It's exciting for everybody."

The Raiders will field largely the same team that played in the grand final for round one.

They will be missing John Bateman (shoulder) and departed Raiders Jordan Rapana, Joey Leilua and Aidan Sezer.

But they've added George Williams at halfback and Curtis Scott at centre to bolster the back line, while Bailey Simonsson steps up and Corey Horsburgh steps in to fill Bateman's shoes.

"We need to improve our game if we think we're going to be anywhere near we were last year. But to be honest, we haven't spoken about winning grand finals, we just have to start the season well," Stuart said.

"Everybody has a job to do and we just have to make sure we do it well.

"We had some great moments [at home] last year. It's exciting. Our part of the deal is we have to play good, tough football. We want to win for our fans and, more importantly for us.

"We'll try to improve our game and to impress. But it's a tough gig. Because it was a good season last year, it doesn't just happen again.

"You need a bit of luck, and the harder you work the better you'll be."