Stuart says Raiders facing ‘cheat’ tactic

but in the end they only secured the vital two competition points with a last-minute try to Aidan Sezer.

The win put Canberra back in the top eight but Stuart said while everyone continued to question what’s wrong with his team’s attack they were missing a vital point.

“Teams have worked out how to play us and you have to cheat at the ruck,” Stuart said.

“There was one penalty given tonight against us splitting at marker. I can show you another 15 examples or 20 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES HOST CITY examples that wouldn’t have been penalised tonight.

“I can show you another 10 to 15 examples of splitting at marker on us over the last number of games.

“And you have to be scrappy at the ruck, you have to slow us down at the ruck, you have to cheat at the ruck.

“I’ve been asked all year why our attacking stats aren’t as good as last year.

“Teams have to cheat at the ruck to stifle our attack.

“It’s been going on for several weeks and I blame myself for not preparing my players for that. But I can show you a heap of video to prove it, where they are not standing square at marker and jumping off eight metres (instead of 10m).

“No team can attack under those conditions. I don’t blame the referees.

“There are only so many penalties a referee can give in a game but they (rival teams) continue to do it.

“They don’t mind giving up six or seven penalties because they know the ref is not going to continue to give penalties.

“I will be seen as a whinger and I am happy to be whingeing if it means I can bring the answer to everyone who are constantly asking me where the attack has gone.”

Stuart said he had not yet spoken to referees boss Tony Archer about the problem but believed it was time to defend his players.

The Raiders looked to be heading for a big win when they led 16-6 at halftime after Jordan Rapana scored a double and Jarrod Croker passed the 1500-point mark with a try.