Mar 26th, 2018

Mar 26th, 2018

NRL legend Peter Sterling has suggested that the Canberra Raiders are developing a reputation of being chokers.

The Raiders are yet to register a win in the 2018 NRL season after holding a lead early in all three games and their struggles were capped off by a loss to the New Zealand Warriors on the weekend where they conceded two field goals inside the final minute of play go down 19-20.

“The Raiders are now getting a real reputation of being unable to win close matches,” Sterling said.

“The Issac Luke try, that’s as soft as you will see."

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“To allow Shaun Johnson two field-goal attempts from the 30 from a restart in play, it’s not good enough.”

This season’s struggles to win close games comes off the back of the Raiders winning just two out of ten games with a single-digit margin last season.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was vocal in his criticism of the referees following the game, however Sterling suggested that Stuart’s concerns were misguided.

“I think what Ricky needs to be concentrating on is the last five or six minutes of that game,” he said.

(AAP)

Canberra is struggling to fill the gaping hole in their lineup left by English hooker Josh Hodgson, who is currently out following a knee reconstruction, and Sterling questioned the combinations utilised by Stuart thus far.

“I have a question mark on Sam Williams. He’s had a number of shots at first grade and has not quite cemented that and there must be a reason to that,” Sterling said.

“Obviously Ricky Stuart is looking to cover the loss and the huge loss of Josh Hodgson and he wants to put a half in there whether it be [Aidan] Sezer or Blake Austin.”

“I like Austin and Sezer together, but then you’ve got a problem maybe outside of that as to who you’re going to play out of dummy-half when [Siliva] Havili is gassed during the course of the game.”