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With only five games remaining and the battle for spots in the top eight closer than ever before, the battle at the other end of the table between the Knights, Sharks and Raiders for the wooden spoon is one that all lovers of rugby league will keep an eye on.
I have often spoken before about that the best defensive side in the NRL deserves to win the competition. It follows that the worse defensive side in the NRL deserves to ‘win’ the wooden spoon.
When you look at the numbers as they stand, the Knights have conceded 449 points at an average of 23 points per game, the Sharks have conceded 481 points at an average of 25 points per game and the Raiders have conceded 527 points at an average of 28 points per game.
With those numbers, the Raiders are almost double what the Rabbitohs have conceded this year, and it makes you wonder what the mindset of the players is when, in the end, defence comes down to attitude.
For the third time this year we saw Canberra concede 50 points or more on the weekend and as a player you would be embarrassed by that. Defence is something you, as a player and a club, pride yourself on. When teams can score that many points against you in such an even competition due to the balance and talent equalisation of the salary cap, the question of attitude and commitment has to be asked.
For me, it has been Canberra’s downfall all year.
We have seen them beat the Rabbitohs, Storm and the Cowboys, but at stages throughout this year their performances have been below NRL standards.
You can accept an off day but to concede, on average, almost five converted tries per game and more than 50 points on three occasions throughout the year is totally unacceptable.
Some are suggesting that the Raiders don’t have enough top quality players but I disagree.
No team can down the likes of the Rabbitohs, Storm and Cowboys unless the ability is there.
I’m sure Ricky Stuart and his coaching staff are doing all that is possible to prepare the team but the commitment and determination to defend must come from within and the players should be taking a long, hard look at themselves.
It is imperative that they put in a huge effort over the remaining five games; if not for themselves then their hardy band of supporters and club sponsors.
Pride must return to their ranks – what we saw from them against the Warriors at the weekend was dreadful and not up to NRL standard.
If the attitude of the Raiders players doesn’t change over the coming weeks, I can only see the wooden spoon for 2014 going to The Green Machine.
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