Ricky Stuart is refusing to panic about Canberra’s form despite his side slumping to a third defeat in four games on Saturday night.
However, Stuart admits his team will never be the same as the one that made a fairytale run to last year’s grand final.
Nor does he want them to be.
But he also concedes the Raiders aren’t where they want to be after Saturday’s golden-point loss to Parramatta left them with one win in their past four games.
Stuart’s side almost stole the two points when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crossed twice in the final five minutes to force extra time at Bankwest Stadium.
However, Eels captain Clint Gutherson iced the win with an 87th-minute field goal.
Stuart was proud of his team’s never-say-die attitude, but bemoaned a series of untimely errors in both attack and defence that cost them the game.
“It’s amazing how they actually got back to that scoreline. I’ll never debate that they never give in. I’ve said that for years,” Stuart said post-game.
“You can never win a game of football in the first half but you can lose it and we keep making it very hard on ourselves by poor pieces of football.”
The defeat leaves Canberra in danger of dropping as low as seventh by the end of the round, however, Stuart is refusing to hit the panic button.
He said the team needed to forget about its achievements from last year, when they went agonisingly close to claiming the premiership.
“We’re not the team we were last year. We’ll never be that team from last year. So we can put that to rest,” he said.
“(But) we’re not where we need to be as a team today.
“But, it’s not panic stations for us. There’s areas we can work with that we need to pay attention to. I haven’t got time to panic. I’ve got time to fix it quickly.”
Stuart also refused to be drawn on a flashpoint during the match, when firebrand Corey Horsburgh reacted angrily to a tackle from Ryan Matterson.
An emotional Horsburgh also flipped the bird to the crowd as he limped from the field, before being ruled out with a suspected foot injury.
“I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know what the situation is about yet. I went in the sheds for five minutes and I gotta come and do (media),” Stuart said.
The Raiders also wait a nervous wait on the match review report after both Josh Hodgson and Jordan Rapana were cited for separate incidents.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Credit to the Eels - they have recruited very well - Ferguson, RCG, Matterson, Blake, Moses and luring Jnr Paulo back to Parra - they are a serious threat if they can play consistently for 80 minutes
Albo
Roar Rookie
100% Geoff. Raiders pack is much less effective without Tapine & Horsburgh. The Eels steamrolled them most of the night . For goodness sakes , RCG played 78 minutes for 23 hit ups , 247 metres & 49 tackles. Junior Paulo 19/180, Lane 16/194, Matterson 15/137.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Elliot is the best of the Poms we’ve picked up in my opinion – hard as nails – can’t remember him ever getting injured but has been the cause of plenty to opposition players – not that you wish that on anyone. And he is very creative and smart for a big man. Not the world’s quickest player but is always there in support sniffing out an opportunity. If the rest of the Raiders had his attitude they would win multiple premierships. I have big hopes for both Guler and Horsburgh – still very young and raw – but they really have a crack, show tons of potential and they care – real competitors. We missed Joe Tapine yesterday – when that stink was on with Matterson standing over Horsburgh – if Tapine was playing and nearby it would have been really on – Joey never takes a backward step.
kk
Roar Pro
The Raiders can only go up...and they will. The other main contenders probably do not have much more to offer. I was probably harsh on Elliott but I regard he and Jack so highly that I mark them hard. Guler is an improver and also tough .
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Can't argue too much with those scores - all had very quiet and ordinary games - which makes the fact that the Raiders went into golden point pretty amazing. I'd be giving Whitehead and CNK 9/10, Papa and Guler 8/10 and George 7/10.
kk
Roar Pro
Ordinary by the numbers. #. ?/10. 3. 3 4. 4 6. 6 9. 5 12. 6
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Yep - Papa has been consistently good. I almost take that as a given these days. And I think George Williams has been a great buy. You're right about the Eels pack - RCG, Paulo and Matterson monstered the Raiders for the most part - and they were missing Nathan Brown. The Eels look pretty solid all over the park and are easily the second best team in the comp right now. The Raiders are obviously good enough to be further up the ladder as they made the GF last year but they need more contributions outside those they usually rely on.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Whitehead and Guler sure, but the best player on the field for total effort was Josh Papalii. Parra pack really stung them and they didnt recipricate the pain. Theyre not going to trouble the top 4 without Bateman, they dont pay him it'll be Matterson all over again.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Some better signs from the Raiders last night but the team needs to get more out of their back 5. Can't question the involvement of CNK and Rapana but Croker, Cotric and Scott barely contributed. Compare them with the Eels back 5 most of whom ran for well over 100 metres. The Raiders fortunes hinge so much on the form of Hodgson and he's been down for the past month. On the positive side I'm really liking the passion and efforts of Horsburgh and Guler up front and Elliot Whitehead has been simply outstanding.