Canberra survive a real scare against Sydney Roosters to win 24-16

CANBERRA have survived a comeback from the Origin-depleted Roosters to win 24-16 with Ricky Stuart unloading a fearsome spray after the match.

Jordan Rapana is tackled by Jake Friend.

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A FRUSTRATED Ricky Stuart has unloaded on rival teams who “cheat at the ruck” to spoil Canberra’s attack.

In a dramatic aftermath of the Raiders’ thrilling 24-16 win over the understrength Roosters, Stuart let rip at the Roosters and other NRL rivals who he said had been getting away with gaining an unfair advantage.

With the Roosters missing five Origin players to Canberra’s one yesterday, many tipped the Raiders to win easy but in the end they only secured the vital two competition points with a last minute try to Aidan Sezer.

The win put Canberra back in the top eight but Stuart said while everyone continues to question what’s wrong with his team’s attack they are missing a vital point.

Jordan Rapana is tackled by Jake Friend.

“Teams have worked out how to play us and you have to cheat at the ruck,” Stuart told The Daily Telegraph.

“There was one penalty given tonight against us splitting at marker.

“I can show you another 15 examples or 20 examples that wouldn’t have been penalised tonight.

“I can show you another 10 to 15 examples of splitting at marker on us over the last number of games.

“And you have to be scrappy at the ruck, you have to slow us down at the ruck, you have to cheat at the ruck.

“I’ve been asked all year why our attacking stats aren’t as good as last year.

The Raiders dominated the first half.

“Teams have to cheat at the ruck to stifle our attack.

“It’s been going on for several weeks and I blame myself for not preparing my players for that.

“But I can show you a heap of video to prove it, where they are no standing square at marker and jumping off eight metres (instead of 10m).

“No team can attack under those conditions.

“I don’t blame the referees.

“There are only so many penalties a referee can give in a game but they (rival teams) continue to do it.

“They don’t mind giving up six or seven penalties because they know the ref is not going to continue to give penalties.

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“It creates frustration in the team which is why we haven’t been attacking well, because we have been losing the football through frustration.

“I will be seen as a whinger and I am happy to be whinging if it means I can bring the answer to everyone who are constantly asking me where the attack has gone.”

Stuart said he had not yet spoken to referees’ boss Tony Archer about the problem but believed it was time to defend his players.

“I don’t see any other team in the competition who keep getting compared to last season like we do,” Stuart said.

“I don’t see any other team in the competition keep copping the criticism over not scoring points or the way they are playing.

“I say every week it is a tight comp and it is a tough competition.”

The Raiders looked to be heading for a big win when they led 16-6 at halftime after Jordan Rapana scored a double and Jarrod Croker passed his individual 1500 point milestone with his touchdown.

The depleted Roosters were valiant in defeat.

But two unanswered tries to the Roosters set up a tense finish.

Latrell Mitchell finished off a wonderful try from a scrum play deep inside the Roosters’ half to bring the margin back to 18-16 in the 74th minute but Michael Gordon missed the sideline conversion.

Another costly Roosters error delivered Sezer the final try in the last seconds of the game.

The Raiders next game is against Manly this Sunday at Lottoland while the Roosters play the Broncos in a top-four showdown on Saturday.

CANBERRA 24 (J Rapana 2 J Croker A Sezer tries J Croker 4 goals) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 16 (J Friend J Manu L Mitchell tries M Gordon 2 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, David Munro. Crowd: 14,786.