NRL: Raiders coach Ricky Stuart urges patience after depressing start

AAP

19 Mar, 2018 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Photo / AAP

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart concedes the Raiders are in a difficult position but is urging calm after another NRL defeat.

The Raiders have begun the season with a pair of 30-28 losses after Sunday night's defeat to Newcastle mirrored the round one result on the Gold Coast.

After suffering eight defeats by six points or fewer in 2017, these performances have only magnified the focus on Canberra in tight games.

Next Saturday they host the New Zealand Warriors, who have started the season strongly.

Stuart said he would be patient with his players knowing the losses had not been for a lack of effort.

"There's no point ripping people's heads off because I'm upset about losing the game," Stuart said.

"I've got to be smart and I've got to be understanding of what the players are going through.

"It's a difficult situation that it is continually happening ... if [the problem] was there for everyone to see what exactly what it is, you'd be telling me."

Canberra have a six-day turnaround to deal with injuries before hosting the undefeated Warriors at GIO Stadium.

Stuart said it was not looking good for Charlie Gubb (groin) and Joseph Leilua (ankle), who went down during the game, and also flagged two further injury concerns.

Those concerns only add to the Raiders' injury woes, with forward Joseph Tapine to miss at least another two weeks due to a dislocated thumb.

"It's not all about next week. Obviously every game is a really important game to win but it's about making sure we don't lose all that effort and desire that's there," Stuart said.