BY DAN

Proof in the pudding but also frustration in the outcome. Such was the overwhelming feeling following the Canberra Raiders frankly heartbreaking 26-20 loss to Newcastle in their NRLW clash on Saturday. Canberra were as good as their opposition for large chunks but are still hampered by a frustrating capacity for an error at the most inopportune time. This team is on track for the finals footy. They just need to get out of their own way.

Newcastle are the team to beat in the NRLW; the stick against whom all who play this comp measure themselves. Canberra had started well with their demolishment of the Wests Tigers last week. This was going to be another test entirely.

And they really did give them a shake. Like most things the club does this was built on the back of Simaima Taufa. You could start with her utter dominance of a very good pack (193m on the ground, 69 post contact, two tackle breaks). You could maybe mention she not only led the team in metres, but also added a team leading 40 tackles. And while that sounds great, you should also mention that she basically created the Raiders second try by simply finding a way through the middle of the Knights defence before Ash Quinan sent Zehara Temara on her way. I say this to make clear: she is the fucking greatest and we are blessed she chose to play for Canberra.

She got good help from Grace Kemp (8 for 76), and both Chante Temara and Emma Barnes had great moments running around the ruck. But too often it felt like if they weren’t taking the carry then there was no punch to the action. Sophie Holyman isn’t to blame, going down with a bicep injury that looked like it could have long term ramifications. I was disappointed by the efforts of Tommaya Kelly-Sines, who I wanted to have a bigger impact, as well as Monalisa Soliola who was quieter after last weekend’s barnstormer. There was support from the back five – Mackenzie Wiki runs like she’s carrying a rock, no one wants to tackle her.

Despite this contested platform Zehara was brilliant conducting the attack. Everything starts with her, including the best shift movements in which Quinlan and Api Nicholls set up outside her, dependent on her decision making and ability to suck in defenders in her slow-slow-fast shuffle-and-go across the line. The Raiders first try was a perfect encapsulation of this, drawing defenders in before both Quinlan and Nicholls took advantage.

Nicholls in particularly thrived off the back of her play. Last year she had too many errors in her game but so far this season she’s been a dynamic threat, both wide of Quinlan or as a second ball-player out the back. She didn’t get the results she would have preferred but boy did she look dangerous. As did Wiki – her improvement since last year is dramatic. She’s quickly becoming the Milk’s most dangerous option outside of the spine.

But because of the patchy platform, and a prediction for inopportune errors (seriously people, 63 per cent completion rate isn’t going to cut it) it meant that the opportunities to attack weren’t as plentiful as one would have hoped. So they only managed three tries for the game, the last coming off a Temara kick that Matua picked up and found everyone’s favourite winger, Shak Tungai to score.

Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for their opposition. While the Knights similarly felt the cost of the battle through the middle third, they were able to jump on opportunities more readily because well, Tamika Upton exists, and because while Canberra’s scrambling defence was better than their ‘every-down’ efforts, their goal line defence had some galling moments.

As Viv noted in the WRumble the Raiders needed to make sure Upton didn’t have space. It’s an easier thing to say than do. Unfortunately one of the Knights tries came when Upton got enough space from a defence unwilling or unable to get off its line. Similarly the game winner came when Upton got to a kick quicker than the Raiders and earned a penalty try. While that wasn’t a matter of her getting too much space, the kicker had been allowed to crab across in front of a defence that didn’t get off the line and pick her spot.

Add to that two tries that came from crash plays, and another that started when a bomb was taken the other way by Lilly-Ann White. They were just moments of imperfection, much like the handling. And when you’re playing the best team in the competition you can’t win unless you’re really good. While the Raiders showed how much potential they have, they weren’t at their best.

The only thing that worries is that Canberra are now three games deep this season (if you include the trial) in which their completion rate is yet to top 75 per cent. That’s the difference between pushing the best and being it. That, combined with Holyman’s injury, is the major thing holding the Raiders back.

But that we’re even having that conversation is exciting. There’s enough talent, and enough organisation in this team to be a force in this competition. I can’t wait to see them put it together.

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