Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says Raiders ‘shot themselves in the foot’ after yet another tight loss

IT was like watching the re-run of a Halloween horror movie for Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders after suffering another loss from a winning position.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the side threw away another win.

IT was like watching the re-run of a Halloween horror movie for Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders.

You could see the second half collapse coming from a mile off - but nothing could stop it from happening.

After blowing a 16-8 halftime lead to eventually go down 24-16 to an injury-ravaged Cronulla, Stuart conceded the most “frustrating” part of this season has been watching his side “shot ourselves in the foot” in four games they simply should have won.

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Raiders coach Ricky Stuart says the side threw away another win.

Just like they had done in the opening three rounds against Gold Coast, Newcastle and the Warriors, the Raiders looked to be travelling comfortably at the break before they fell into a hole as Cronulla came charging home over the top of them.

And the biggest concern going forward would have to be the mental baggage that goes with losing another tight game.

If the Raiders had won all four of those games, which they were in a position to do, they would be sitting equal second on the NRL ladder on 16 competition points.

Instead they are stuck on eight and back in 11th spot heading into this Sunday’s showdown with ladder leaders St George Illawarra.

“That is the most frustrating thing,” Stuart conceded.

“In most parts of those games we have been the dominant team and played very, very well.

“Yes, that is the really frustrating part because there is games there that we should have won but we didn’t.

“It is not just me sitting here as a coach, it is the boys as well.

“They understand that too.

“It is definitely not without effort.”

And while the Raiders could use the departure of five-eighth Blake Austin as an excuse after he left the field midway through the first half with an ankle injury, it has to be remembered the Sharks were also without a stack of their biggest stars including Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Luke Lewis and Josh Dugan.

Five-eighth Blake Austin also suffered an injury in the loss.

Stuart was full of praise for Cronulla, but understandably upset with the way the game slipped away.

“They did a wonderful job. They were down on a number of players,” Stuart said.

“We should have beat that team.

“Credit to Cronulla.

“I mean, I am disappointed because I thought we could have won the game if we were a bit smarter with our choices.

“But I don’t want to take that credit away from Cronulla, either.

“They dug in right until the end and we didn’t.”

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Originally published as Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says Raiders ‘shot themselves in the foot’ after yet another tight loss