Canberra centre Blake Ferguson insists he’d forgotten all about his infamous departing jibe that Cronulla weren’t NRL premiership contenders.

But scoring two match-turning tries as the Raiders sent his old club packing from the 2012 finals, it was almost as if he was saying it all over again.

Ferguson was one of the Raiders’ best on Sunday when Canberra downed an error-riddled Cronulla 34-16 to end the Sharks’ title hopes and extend their own for another week.

Ferguson was rampant on the right edge with Sandor Earl, who also bagged two tries.

Ferguson’s first four-pointer, when he flew high to take a bomb in the 67th minute, helped to kickstart the home side after the Sharks had closed to within two points at 18-16.

After the match, Ferguson played down his performance in what could have been a spiteful finals clash against his old team.

“It’s just about the team effort,” he said.

“I don’t think it was anything special.

“It wasn’t my two tries that won the game for us.”

Ferguson and Sharks coach Shane Flanagan have since made their peace after the 22-year-old left the club arguing he wanted to be with a team that was a genuine title chance.

He said he’d just been excited about matching up against his old squad in a final and as for his comments: “I’d forgotten about that.”

“I’m just really happy at the Raiders and I’m just loving playing footy.

“We’ve still got a lot to work on, but there’s real big desire.”

Canberra have set up a meeting with South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday and now sit just two wins away from a once unthinkable grand final berth.

Coach David Furner said the hard-fought win was good for confidence levels.

“It’s been handy,” he said of the Raiders’ run of six victories on the trot.

“We’ve been in this position for six or seven weeks where if we dropped a game we were pretty much out.

“That’s what I’ve liked about the side, they’ve risen to the challenge.”

His major concern for the Rabbitohs clash is with Jarrod Croker, who copped a knee to the head midway through the second half and was brought off the field with concussion.

“I’ve got a sick kid in there,” Furner said.

“We’ll just have to see (about Saturday).”

Fullback Josh Dugan, brought in to replace Croker as goalkicker, flubbed all four of his shots, but argued he was rusty.

If Croker is ruled out, Furner reserved his right to keep faith with Dugan but said he had several options.